Combined Executive Agenda 120410.pdf - North Ayrshire Council

Subject:
NORTH AYRSHIRE COUNCIL
Agenda Item 6
10 April 2012
The Executive of North Ayrshire Council
Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011: Area
Support Teams
Purpose: To update the Executive on progress in relation to the
formation of an Ayrshire Area Support Team.
Recommendation: That the Executive (a) notes the position to date; and
(b) agrees that Officers continue to work to resolve
the points raised in section 3.2 of the report.
1. Introduction
1.1 The Children's Hearing (Scotland) Act 2011 introduces a large number
of changes designed to promote and strengthen children's rights. The
Council and its partners have recently developed an early intervention
and prevention programme which also seeks to improve children's life
chances.
1.2 The provisions being taken forward to improve the Children's Hearings
system fit well within the work planned for North Ayrshire to intervene
earlier with children referred to the Reporter.
1.3 At its meeting held on 11 October 2011, the Executive received a
report on the implications arising from a consultation paper issued on
29 July 2011, by the National Convener of Children's Hearings
Scotland (CHS), Bernadette Monaghan, on proposals for the
establishment of Area Support Teams (ASTs), including proposals for
an Ayrshire AST. This stemmed from the requirement under the
Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 that the National Convener
must establish ASTs in collaboration with local authorities to replace
the existing system of Children's Panel Advisory Committees
(CPACs).
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