Priority Theme : Youth Services
Priority – Young people are safe, valued and listened to in our communities
Introduction
The GIRFEC Youth Services Thematic Group is responsible for driving forward, developing, and monitoring this priorityby:
- Ensuring multi-agency collaboration with a shared vision and commitment via joint ownership, networking, co-operation, and communication across Aberdeenshire
- Promoting an outcome focussed contextual safeguarding partnership approach
- Working together to establish and maintain meaningful links between strategic and operational practice
- Working towards protecting our children and young people with a holistic response
- Working towards recognising the potential presence of different and multiple contexts of harm in children and young peoples’ lives.
- Working together with children and young people to ensure their voices are heard and represented throughout the community through participation.
Membership: Children’s Social Work, Adult Services, Police Scotland, Third Sector, NHS, Justice Social Work, Housing, Children’s Reporter, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Scottish Prison Service, Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Education Psychology, Throughcare and Aftercare, Education Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).
Current work
This is a new children and young people’s thematic priority for 2023-26 and as such the group have focussed on the development of their structures in order to work collaboratively to achieve the goals within their action plan.
The work of the Thematic Group is supported by 2 sub groups:
Youth Justice:
One of the main priorities of this group is to ensure that the principles of the Whole Systems Approach to Youth Justice are embedded within practice across all organisations. The group will also work together to identify and progress the actions that need to take place locally so Aberdeenshire implements the changes needed to meet requirements within the Children (Care and Justice) Bill, which was passed by parliament on 25th April 2024. This new legislation marks a huge step forward for children and young people who are in conflict with the law.
Early Intervention and Prevention sub-group:
The Early Intervention and Prevention sub-group is new within it’s formation and aims to support the Youth Services Thematic Group in driving forward their priorities. Currently, the group are agreeing their action plan progressing forward and aim to support the implementation of preventative measures and supports for children and young people in Aberdeenshire.