Have you got what it takes to sit on the Children's Panel?
New recruitment drive launched in Glasgow
A search for the 500 new Children’s Panel members needed to help Scotland’s vulnerable children and young people was launched in Glasgow today.
The call for people with every day jobs to consider applying was backed by over 40 current volunteers from across Scotland who spoke of how they fit panel responsibilities around existing work commitments.
This year’s recruitment campaign is focused on highlighting what it means to be a panel member in a bid to attract the right candidates – and Children’s Hearings Scotland appealed to those with compassion, empathy and the ability to listen to come forward.
To equip each applicant for the role, there is an initial training programme, spread over two years. Once trained, panel members must commit to on-going training as well as preparation ahead of attending one to two hearings sessions per month.
The national Children’s Panel, Scotland’s largest legal tribunal, improves outcomes for troubled or at risk children and young people who are in need of care or who have offended.
There are currently 2,500 volunteer panel members across Scotland, however new recruits from a range of backgrounds are needed each year to ensure the system continues to offer the best possible support.
Drew McCulloch, 47 from Darvel, Ayrshire, who works as a supermarket section leader, has been on the Children’s Panel for just over a year after deciding to give something back to his local community.
Drew said: “I gave a lot of consideration to the role before applying to be a panel member and spoke with my employer as I knew it was a big commitment. Thankfully, they understood my motivations for wanting to get involved and were hugely supportive. As I work shifts, I manage to juggle my role as a panel member with my job.
“Serving as a panel member can be hard at times, but is an extremely rewarding experience. You definitely get more out of it than you put in.”
Boyd McAdam, National Convener and Chief Executive of Children’s Hearings Scotland, said:
“Without the support and commitment of our volunteers, there wouldn’t be a hearings system in Scotland. The role is unique, and those who give their time are unswerving in their dedication to improve the lives of those children and young people who are vulnerable or troubled.
“This year, we want to be clear about the commitment involved in being a panel member in a bid to ensure people who apply understand what being a panel member involves. We’re indebted to the many employers who give their employees time off to attend children’s hearings, and would encourage potential applicants to talk to their employer prior to applying.
Applicants need to be 18 or over. The deadline for applications is 25 September 2016. To find out more about becoming a panel member, or to apply online, visit www.childrenspanelscotland.org.