Children and young people themselves need to be at the centre of the Named Person process
Ross Greer MSP, Education spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (7 March) welcomed a statement in Parliament from Education Secretary John Swinney on the Named Person scheme and called for further direct engagement with children and young people.
Last July, a Supreme Court judgement confirmed that providing a named person as a point of contact and support for every child and their family would not breach human rights but asked for clarity around information-sharing provisions.
Today, the Education Secretary confirmed that a Bill clarifying good information-sharing practice will be introduced to Parliament before the end of June, with a view to enacting it next year.
Ross Greer MSP said:
"Providing a single point of contact to ensure protection and support for all children is a sound principle. Sensitivities around information-sharing must be addressed, and I'm glad that since last summer's court judgement, the Scottish Government has consulted with 250 relevant organisations.
“Children and young people themselves need to be at the centre of this process, not just as the topic for discussion but with their voices heard clearly and their needs listened to. More work needs to be done to ensure parents and young people understand the benefits of the provision, and to counter misinformation. We must take time to get this right, as the end result will be a safer environment in which all children can thrive."