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Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)

Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC)

Getting it Right for Every Child or GIRFEC is the national approach used by all public services and agencies and also voluntary agencies working with children and young people in Scotland to ensure that their wellbeing needs are met. It applies to

• all children and young people,
• all services and agencies working with children, young people and adults in the public and voluntary sectors.

GIRFEC arises out of the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The GIRFEC approach aims to embed the rights of children and young people under the UNCRC in all public and voluntary sector work.

The use of the GIRFEC approach means that the vast majority of children and young people will have all their wellbeing needs met through what is routinely provided through national health and education services. However, some children and young people need help and support additional to what is routinely provided and the use of the GIRFEC approach helps to ensure that the additional help and support needed is available as early as possible.

GIRFEC - 4 principles

Child-focused

All routine health and education services have a child-centred approach to all work with children, young people and their families. For children and young people who need additional help and support to that which is routinely provided, a child-focused approach means that they, and their families, are at the centre of decision making to ensure that the additional help and support that is required is delivered in the most timely and least intrusive manner.

An holistic understanding of the wellbeing of a child or young person

Wellbeing is now part of legislation under the Children and Young People (Scotland) 2014 Act. Our health and education services routinely engage in assessing the wellbeing of all children and young people using the 8 wellbeing indicators noted in the Act ie

• Safe
• Healthy
• Achieving
• Nurtured
• Active
• Respected
• Responsible
• Included

Children, young people and their families are active contributors to any assessment of wellbeing.

Addressing any issues with wellbeing as early as possible

All local authorities have in place processes and procedures for early intervention using the GIRFEC approach to address any issues that a child or young person has with their wellbeing. This is to ensure that any additional needs that a child or young person might have are identified as soon as possible, so that action can be taken to prevent the development of serious concerns relating to their wellbeing.

A joined-up approach

All local authorities have in place processes and procedures that promote collaboration between professionals, children, young people and families to meet any wellbeing needs. The main process and procedure for this is the Team Around the Child and Staged Intervention. Children, young people and parents/carers are always members of any Team Around The Child.

Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014

Key elements of the GIRFEC approach have been introduced into law under the Children and Young People (Scotland) 2014 Act:

Wellbeing is described in legislation for the first time to help make sure everyone uses the same terminology and approach.

Children and young people who need extra support which is not generally available through that ordinarily provided in Universal Services will have a Child's Plan.

Find out more

Visit the Scottish Government's GIRFEC web page.