Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) is Scotland’s national approach to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of children and young people.
In Clackmannanshire, GIRFEC provides a shared, rights-based framework for all services working with children, young people and families. It ensures that support is
GIRFEC is underpinned by the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which is incorporated into Scots law. This means that
GIRFEC supports all services to put these rights into practice.
GIRFEC is for
GIRFEC applies to every child, not only those who require additional or specialist support.
Most children and young people will have their needs met through universal services, such as
Some children may require additional or targeted support, and a smaller number may require coordinated multi-agency support.
The GIRFEC approach ensures that support is always
For further information and support, please access the community directory.
You can also find information on GIRFEC via the Scottish Government's GIRFEC web page.
Information on The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is available on the UNICEF website.
For children, young people and families
GIRFEC leaflets are available to refer to via the Forth Valley Practitioner pages along with our child protection leaflets, which help explain
These help ensure children and families understand their rights and involvement.
GIRFEC is not a single service. It is how all services work together to support children and families.
In practice, this means
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.
Education services are central to GIRFEC.
Schools and early learning settings are often the main environment where children’s wellbeing is supported daily. Education staff
Education also plays a key role in upholding UNCRC rights, including
Information sharing and rights
Information is shared
In line with UNCRC
If you would like independent advice on this, please refer to Children’s Rights webpage for contact details.
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. Clackmannanshire schools and ELCs use the Staged Intervention process to assess, identify and plan to meet children and young peoples' needs. This ensures 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 are in law under the Children and Young People (Scotland) 2014 Act:
Children and young people who need extra support which is not generally available through that ordinarily provided in Universal Services will have a personal plan called 'My Plan'. My Plan is required when:
Further information is also available on the following pages:
If you are worried about a child or young person’s wellbeing, or feel additional support may be needed, you can speak to a trusted professional such as a teacher, health visitor, support worker or another practitioner involved with your family. Under GIRFEC, every child has a named person who can help provide advice, guidance and support.
A practitioner will listen to the views of the child, young person and family to understand what is going well, what the concerns may be, and what support might help improve wellbeing. Conversations are child-centred and based on the GIRFEC wellbeing indicators: Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and Included (SHANARRI).
If additional help is needed, practitioners may complete a wellbeing assessment using the GIRFEC National Practice Model. This helps build a clearer understanding of strengths, needs and any barriers affecting wellbeing, ensuring the right support is identified as early as possible.
Where support from more than one service is required, a Team Around the Child (TAC) meeting may be arranged. Children, young people and families are involved in agreeing what matters to them and identifying outcomes and supports. A Child’s 'My Plan' may be developed to coordinate this support.
A lead professional may be identified to help coordinate support and ensure everyone involved is working together effectively. Support may include help from education, health, social work, family support services, community organisations or other agencies.
Support arrangements and plans are reviewed regularly with the child, young person and family to make sure support is helping and outcomes are improving. Plans can change as circumstances or needs change.
When wellbeing improves, support may reduce and universal services will continue to provide ongoing support where needed. If further or more specialist help is required, practitioners will work together to ensure children and families can access the right support at the right time.
Note: If the wellbeing concern is assessed by practitioners to be a child protection concern, then multi-agency child protection processes will then take place.
Education
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 450000
Email: education@clacks.gov.uk