PRACTICE NOTES FOR SAFEGUARDERS ON COURT Part I PRACTICE POSITIONS including statements of practice expected from Safeguarders. Part II INFORMATION including relevant law, structures and roles relevant to court. Part III PRACTICE including step-by-step process and potential contributions. January 2019 PRACTICE NOTE FOR SAFEGUARDERS ON COURT FOREWORD Court proceedings are involved in the Children’s Hearings System to allow challenge to grounds or decisions that justify compulsory intervention in a child and a family’s life. The court is a different context to that of a Children’s Hearing. There is often a lot at stake for children and their families and it can be difficult to understand and participate in what are more formal processes. The Safeguarder has an important role to play in keeping the child at the centre and safeguarding the interests of the child during the child’s involvement in this part of the hearings system. The Safeguarder is the only role tasked exclusively with this focus. It is important that Safeguarders are able to perform their role to the highest of standards and in doing so, never lose sight of the individual child and their needs whilst these proceedings are ongoing. Practice Notes supplement the Practice Standards for Safeguarders by providing further clarity on the expectations of Safeguarder practice and conduct. 2 PRACTICE NOTE FOR SAFEGUARDERS ON COURT Contents PRACTICE NOTE ON COURT – PART I - PRACTICE POSITIONS ............................................................. 6 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Role of the Safeguarder at Court .................................................................................................. 7 2. Appointment .................................................................................................................................. 8 3. Attendance at Court ...................................................................................................................... 9 4. Reports for Court During Proceedings for the Determination of Grounds ............................. 11 5. Should Safeguarders be a Party to the Court Proceedings? ..................................................... 12 6. Officer of the Court ...................................................................................................................... 15 7. Curator Ad Litem ......................................................................................................................... 16 8. Conflict of Interest ....................................................................................................................... 17 9. Legal Advice and/or Representation for the Safeguarder ....................................................... 18 10. Confidentiality ........................................................................................................................... 20 11. Children in Court Proceedings ................................................................................................. 21 12. Investigation .............................................................................................................................. 24 13. Safeguarders Role Regarding Delay ......................................................................................... 25 14. Grounds Applications – Order of Parties at Proof/Hearing of Evidence .............................. 26 15. Support for Safeguarders in Their Role at Court .................................................................... 27 16. Experience of Higher Courts as Safeguarders ......................................................................... 28 PRACTICE NOTE ON COURT – PART II - INFORMATION ........................................................................ 29 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 29 1. Children’s Hearings Court Proceedings – General Context ...................................................... 30 2. Court Structures .......................................................................................................................... 31 3. Relevant Legislation .................................................................................................................... 32 4. Legal Terminology ....................................................................................................................... 33 5. Types of Court Proceedings for Safeguarders ........................................................................... 34 6. Roles at Court (Children’s Hearing Court Proceedings) ........................................................... 35 7. Rights and Duties of Safeguarder (Court) ................................................................................. 36 8. Appointment (Relevant To Court) ............................................................................................. 38 9. Attendance at Court .................................................................................................................... 40 10. Investigation .............................................................................................................................. 41 Practice Notes supplement the Practice Standards for Safeguarders by providing further clarity on the expectations of Safeguarder practice and conduct. 3 PRACTICE NOTE FOR SAFEGUARDERS ON COURT 11. Becoming a Party to the Court Proceedings ............................................................................ 43 12. Legal Advice and/or Representation for the Safeguarder ..................................................... 44 13. Confidentiality ........................................................................................................................... 45 14. Children in Court Proceedings ................................................................................................. 46 15. Grounds Applications ................................................................................................................ 47 16. Appointment and Reasons ....................................................................................................... 48 17. Grounds Applications – Summary of Process ......................................................................... 49 19. Dispensing with Hearing Evidence – Fast Track Applications or Grounds Accepted .......... 51 20. Grounds Applications – Outcomes ........................................................................................... 52 21. Appeals ....................................................................................................................................... 53 22. Courts Involved in Appeals ....................................................................................................... 54 23. Timescales for Appeals ............................................................................................................. 55 24. Decisions That Can be Appealed .............................................................................................. 59 25. Reviews of Children’s Hearing Decisions at Court ................................................................. 60 26. Legal Criteria for Appealing / Grounds to Appeal .................................................................. 61 27. Who Can Appeal Decisions ....................................................................................................... 62 28. Frivolous and Vexatious Appeals ............................................................................................. 64 29. Outcomes of Appeals ................................................................................................................. 65 30. Appeals Against Interim Compulsory Supervision Orders (ICSOs) ...................................... 67 31. Appeals From the Sheriff to the Sheriff Appeal Court/Court of Session ............................... 68 32. Rights and Duties of Safeguarders (Appeals Against Children’s Hearing Decisions) .......... 74 PRACTICE NOTE ON COURT – PART III - PRACTICE ................................................................................. 78 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 78 1. Considerations ...................................................................................................................................................... 79 2. Grounds Applications ......................................................................................................................................... 81 Overview.................................................................................................................................................................. 81 7 Process Steps ..................................................................................................................................................... 81 3. Interim Compulsory Supervision Orders (ICSOs) ................................................................................ 114 Purpose of an ICSO ............................................................................................................................................ 114 Criteria