Received a letter from the Reporter?

What is a referral?

A referral is when information about a child is sent by the police, social work department or a school to the Children's Reporter, because they think that the child needs help to sort out some of the problems in their life.

There are lots of different reasons why a child might be referred – these are called the ‘grounds of referral’. These are:

• If they are having problems with going to school,
• If they have been in trouble with the police,
• If people are worried that they are not being properly looked after at home,
• If people are worried about their safety.

If I have been referred to the Reporter, will I have to go to a Hearing?

Most of the children who are referred to the Reporter do not have to go to a Hearing. If you have been referred to the Reporter, you will get a letter. Your parents or carers will also get a similar letter. It will explain why you have been referred to the Reporter.

The Reporter might then ask for some more information about you from your school or from social work. Once they get this information they will decide if you need to go to a Hearing. The Reporter will write to you again to let you know what they decide.

 

If I have been referred, what could happen to me?

There are a few different things that a Reporter can decide to do:

• They can decide to arrange a Children's Hearing.
• They may decide that you don't need help from the Children's Panel because you are managing to sort your problems out with help from your family.
• Or they may decide that you need some help from somebody else like your local council.