Research
SCRA’s Information and Research Team carries out research to inform and support the development of SCRA and raise awareness of the children involved in the Children’s Hearings System. Much of this work is related to Scottish Government and Scottish Parliamentary initiatives. Copies of the reports can be downloaded by clicking on the relevant links below. Older research reports can be found in the Archive section.
SCRA’s Modern Apprentices carried out inspection visits of 23 Hearings Centres. Their report makes recommendations to improve Hearing Centres and young people’s experiences of coming to Hearings. An Action Plan has been produced to take forward and implement the Modern Apprentices recommendations in SCRA.
Fit For Us (920 kb)
This research addresses the question - Does the Children’s Hearings System make a difference? SCRA worked with Aberlour Child Care Trust on research to find out if being involved in the Hearings System makes a difference to the lives of young people. In-depth interviews were carried out with 21 young people aged between 11 and 17 years on Hearings processes, the services they received and outcomes from being involved in the Hearings System.
The Children’s Hearings System: understood and making a difference (974 kb)
This consultation was carried out, on behalf of SCRA, by Who Cares? Scotland with 100 children and young people involved in its services. 100 young people aged nine to 17 years completed a questionnaire either on their own or in discussion with their Who Cares? Scotland worker. Young people made suggestions for improvements to Hearings facilities, communications and paperwork, participation and attitudes towards children’s and young people.
Hearing Scotland’s Children (2237 kb)
This study, on the process of care and permanence planning for looked after children was produced on behalf of the Scottish Government and LACSIG. It follows the pathways of 100 children from when they were first identified as at risk through the care and court systems.
Care and Permanence Planning for Looked After Children in Scotland (507 kb)
Findings from a wider piece of research (above) examining the process of care and permanence planning for 100 looked after children in Scotland. Fourty-four of the children had been assessed for risk at birth or prior to birth.
Care and Permanence - Children assessed as at risk at or before birth (212 kb)
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) and NHS Health Scotland carried out a survey of early years professionals to find out their levels of knowledge and involvement in the Children’s Hearings System.
NHS Scotland Early Years Network - Awareness of the Children's Hearings System (38 kb)
This analysis was carried out by the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration on data it holds. The aim of this analysis is to help our understanding of children who have had Supervision Requirements lasting for five or more years and from this clarify what more we need to know on the outcomes for these children.
Children who are on Supervision Requirements for five years or more (150 kb)
SCRA’s Victim Information Service (VIS) was rolled out nationally between September 2009 and March 2010. The aim of the VIS is to provide victims with information on the outcome of the referral of the offence to the Children’s Reporter, and to provide information on the Children’s Hearings System. This evaluation assessed how well the VIS is operating from the perspectives of victims of youth offending. It was carried out between 1 November 2009 and 31 May 2010.
Victims' Views of SCRA's Victim Information Service 2010 (213 kb)
In 2008/09, 225 children and young people had secure authorisations from Children's Hearings - 183 children had secure authorisations made as conditions of Warrants, 164 children had secure authorisations made as conditions of Supervision Requirements. This research was carried out to obtain information on the implementation of secure authorisations of 100 young people (aged 10 to 16 years), and to follow these young people through the Children's Hearings System looking at the interventions they received and their outcomes.
Secure Authorisations (737 kb)
The Scottish Government commissioned an evaluation of some of the interagency screening processes which reported in 2009 - ‘ Early and Effective Intervention Evaluation Report’. This evaluation reviewed the processes to identify examples of good practice. SCRA's research follows on from the previous evaluation and looks at interventions and outcomes for children and the impact of the screening processes on referrals to the Reporter and children requiring compulsory measures of supervision.
Early and Effective Action Screening Groups (455 kb)
SCRA Research Programme 2009-10 and 2010-11 - published 2009
SCRA carries out research to meet its business priorities as set out in its Corporate Plan and annual Business Plans. It also carries out research to support and inform development of the Children’s Hearings System and raise awareness of the issues facing children and young people involved in it. SCRA is pursuing a more outcomes focused approach in how it plans its business and assesses its performance. This approach is not confined to SCRA as an organisation but also the wider Hearings System with a particular focus on children and young people.
Children under two years old are some of the most vulnerable in our society. The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) carried out this research to show the extent of children under two years at risk in Scotland, as evidenced by referral to the Children’s Reporter. It explores trends in numbers of children being referred and the reasons for this, and looks at the most at risk – those where emergency measures are needed to protect the child and where children have died.
Children aged under two referred to the Children's Reporter (460 kb)
Children who require compulsory measures of supervision are referred to Children’s Hearings to decide what interventions are necessary to protect and promote their welfare. Over 40,000 Children’s Hearings are held in a year. This research explored the views and experiences of children and young people, their parents and carers attending Hearings to identify what aspects are working and areas for improvement.
The views and experiences of children and families involved in the CHS in Scotland (2006 kb)
This is the second of two summary findings reports of the SCRA's research examining children and families’ experiences of the Children’s Hearings System in Scotland. This summary presents the key findings of the second phase of the research – in depth qualitative interviews with children, young people, parents and carers. The interviews gathered further information on the views and experiences about SCRA’s service and attending Children’s Hearings to support the findings from the national survey of children and families.
SCRA Research Summary Findings of Interviews (378 kb)
This is the first of two summary findings of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration’s research examining children and families’ experiences of the Children’s Hearings System (CHS) in Scotland. This summary presents the key findings of the first phase of the research – a national survey of children and families. The survey gathered views and experiences about SCRA’s service and attending Children’s Hearings.
The views and experiences of children and families involved in the CHS in Scotland (700 kb)
Recent policies and guidance within Scotland have focused on the need to address both the prevention of children and young people engaging in offending behaviour, and addressing the needs of those who pose a risk to themselves and other people. The aim of this study is to inform understanding about a group of children who present a risk of serious harm to others. This research addresses two principal concerns. It seeks to profile the backgrounds of a sample of children who present a risk of serious harm and analyses the child's contact with the Children’s Hearing System.
Children who Present a Risk of Serious Harm (841 kb)
The number of Child Protection Orders (CPOs) has increased in recent years. In 2006-07, 624 children were subjects of CPOs. This research was carried out to better understand the circumstances that led to CPOs being made to protect children, and also if compulsory intervention was necessary to safeguard these children in the longer term.
A Study of Children Subject to Child Protection Orders in Edinburgh 2006/2007 (251 kb)
