Section One: Listening to Children and Young People's Views
Participants thought about: how involved they have been in decisions that were made about them; whether adults should have to listen to their views and use them when making decisions; what might stop them being able to give their views; what might help them give their views; and the best way of making their views known.
Should the views of children and young people be listened to and used in deciding what help they get?
"It's about us" Young Person - Event 5
All children and young people across all events felt strongly that adults should have to listen to the views and wishes of children and young people and use them when deciding what actions to take.
A number of children and young people in all groups acknowledged the clear distinction between, being enabled to express their views, and, having their opinions acted on. A number of children and young people suggested that all adults should have some accountability to the views and wishes of the child or young person involved.
This was particularly the case for referral to the Children's Hearings system for proceedings relating to welfare. In such cases, it was thought that legislation should go further to ensure that children and young people have a real say in the help and support that they receive:
"Adults should have to listen to what children think and then, when making decisions, remember what the young person said. But that's not really enough, the person who is receiving help should have a say in the help that they get" Young Person - Event 3
What needs to happen so that children and young people can say what they think?
- What might stop you being able to give your views?
At each of the five events, children and young people discussed the issues and factors that had, in the past, contributed to them not being able to give their views. The same issues were raised again and again in each group. There were two main reasons that children and young people gave for not being able to give their views to adults when going through the Children's Hearings system. The first was that, more often than not, children and young people are expected to talk to groups of (mainly unknown) adults in a strange situation.
"Talking to strangers" Young Person - Event 2
"Because there are lots of them" Young Person - Event 2
"When you are somewhere that you feel uncomfortable" Young Person - Event 5
"If you don't trust the adult" Young Person - Group 3
The impact that this has on these children and young people is to make them:
- "Intimidated by"
- "Uncomfortable"
- "Fearful"
- "Outnumbered"
- "Embarrassed"
"When you have to sit there and tell things to people that you don't know and are not comfortable with, it's intimidating … embarrassing" Young Person - Group 1
"You're intimidated because you are facing a panel of 3 strangers who sit and stare at you and talk about you" Young Person - Event 1
"There are too many people in the room, it's not good" Young Person - Group 4
The result being that these children and young people feel unable to present their views, wishes and feelings:
"You dinnae want to speak to lots of people, that makes you feel nervous and uncomfortable" Young Person - Event 5
The second reason related to value and respect. On the whole, children and young people felt that the adults they encountered through the Children's Hearings system did not value or respect them or their views:
"Adults don't listen to your views, they make decisions without consulting the young person even though the young person is the most important person there" Young Person - Event 1
"They don't care what you say, they don't listen to you anyway, they just do what they want to do" Young Person - Event 3
"You don't feel valued or respected" Young Person - Event 2
"Getting judged, you feel like they are looking at you like you are nothing, you feel that you are being judged" Young Person - Event 5
"You want to feel respected, like what you think is important, not made to feel like dirt" Young Person - Event 5
- What would help you to give your views?
Participants at each event then thought about what would need to happen to change the situation. Once again a small number of specific points came up over and over and were agreed across all five events.
The clear message was, that for children and young people to say what they think they need to feel confident, comfortable and valued. It was agreed that this would only really be the case if they knew they were able to talk to one adult that they know and trust:
"If you know them or can build a relationship with someone, like your key worker, then you can talk to them and tell them your views and they can support you later [when talking to other adults]" Young Person - Event 1
"If you trust them" Young Person - Event 2
"If it's just one person and you on your own it would be scary telling lots of people" Young Person - Event 4
The majority of children and young people who had been through the Children's Hearings system felt that the issues of feeling unvalued and not respected would automatically be avoided if they were able to work with one adult that they knew and trusted.
However, it was thought that a number of smaller changes would also work to improve the system to enable children and young people to give their views.
Around half the suggestions referred to the panel members. Children and young people felt intimidated by the panel and thought that the situation could be improved by:
- Having a friend with you at the panel
- Having an opportunity to meet panel members before a Hearing
- Having the same panel members at each Hearing
- Having young people on the panel who have been through the system
- If the panel valued and respected the children and young people
"If you were comfortable with the people in the panel it would help you to give your views" Young Person - Event 1
"Panel members need to listen to children's issues and take their issues more seriously" Young Person - Event 1
A suggestion by several young people was to have an advocacy system in place:
"Have an advocate, someone you can tell everything to and talk with then [they] will tell all the people at a Hearing what you want to say" Young Person - Event 1
A further main area of comment referred to the physical environment and the importance of feeling comfortable in the surroundings:
"Children's Hearings should be held in a more friendly place where it is not so formal, it would make you feel more comfortable" Young Person - Event 5
"You should make a relaxed atmosphere, like by not having a long table with everyone looking at you but having a round table so you feel like you're part of the meeting" Young Person - Event 1
A number of children and young people thought that you should be able to visit the location prior to a Hearing.
Finally, children and young people at several of the events felt that, every child or young person who attends a Hearing should first have to sit down with someone that they know to talk over all the issues and work together to write down their views.
- What is the best way of giving your views?
The preferred method for children and young people to present their views to adults varied from person to person both within and between groups, as such a number of 'best ways' were suggested and received equal support. These included:
- Talk with one adult who knows and understands you
- Talk with someone you know and then write it down
- Talk with someone you know and then have them write it down for you
- Write it down and give it to someone you trust
- Video recordings
Each young person had a reason for their preferred method:
"You should be able to tell a video camera because if you are on your own with no other people you would feel less intimidated and uncomfortable and you would be able to say all the stuff you wanted to" Young Person - Event 5
"It would be better if you could write it down so you don't keep having to tell people the same things all the time" Young Person - Event 3
"Have a chat about things first like with your social worker because then you can get everything out and then write it down" Young Person - Event 5
"You want to speak to someone who can relate to your circumstances you know like an adult who has been in your position before not someone who has no idea" Young Person - Event 3
"Talk to someone you know or have met before, not a stranger because you need to trust them and feel comfortable otherwise you won't be confident enough to say what you think" Young Person - Event 2
It was agreed that you could not rank the suggestions in order of preference as all children and young people are different with different strengths, weaknesses and preferences. It was agreed that all the above options should be available and the child or young person could then choose.