The Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act (2011) governs the Children’s Hearings system.
Grounds for referral to the Reporter to the Children’s Hearing include:
- Child likely to be exposed to a person whose conduct may abuse or harm the child, or seriously adversely affect the child’s health, safety or development;
- Child likely to have close connection with someone who has carried out domestic abuse;
- Child’s conduct likely to have serious adverse effect on themselves or another;
- Child likely to be pressurised into entering a marriage or civil partnership;
- Child likely to have close connection with Schedule 1 offender (including offences under Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009); and
- Child has misused alcohol or drugs (whether or not a controlled drug).
- Child likely to suffer unnecessarily or health or development be seriously impaired due to lack of parental care;
- Schedule 1 offence committed in respect of the child or child member of same household as Schedule 1 offender;
- Child already looked after (section 25 or Permanence Order) and further measures required (usually secure accommodation);
- Child committed an offence;
- Child beyond control of relevant person; and
- Child not attending school regularly.