Information for Children
Answers to all your Questions
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| What is a children’s hearing? | |
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Children and families who have some problems go to a meeting to talk with people called panel members. There will be 3 panel members at the meeting. The meeting is called a children’s hearing. |
| Who are the Panel Members? |
You and your family can talk to them about any worries you have. They will try to get help for children and their families with problems. |
Panel members are adults who know a lot about children and where to get help for families.| Why am I going to the children’s hearing? | |
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Maybe you have worries about school or friends. Children can be worried about their Mum and Dad, or others can be worried about what is happening to you. The hearing is held to try to help sort things out. |
| Where is the children’s hearing? | |
Children’s hearings are held in lots of different kinds of buildings, mostly in towns. |
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| Who will be there with me? |
 A panel member will tell you who everyone is when you go to the meeting. You are the most important person at the meeting, but others are there too - Mum, Dad or whoever looks after you, and social workers (sometimes teachers too). There will be a person called the children’s reporter who has asked everyone to come to the meeting. Sometimes a person called a safeguarder will be there. This person is there to help the panel members to decide what is best for you. |
| Who will speak? | |
Everyone will get a chance to speak. The panel members will want to listen to everybody, but will be especially interested to everything you say. If you are a bit shy, somebody else can go with you to help you to talk to the panel members. |
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| Will I be there for a long time? | |
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Lots of children go to meetings with panel members. Most meetings should take less than an hour, about as long as your lunch break at school. Most waiting rooms will have some toys and games, but you may want to take one of your own with you. |
| What happens afterwards? | |
The panel members will try to do something to help you and your family with your problems. They will tell you who can help and how they will help you. Remember the social worker? If the panel members think you need some help, the social worker will help you. |
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| What if I don’t like what the Panel Members decide? | |
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You should tell someone - maybe your Mum, Dad, the social worker or the person who looks after you. They will help you to talk to someone about why you do not like the decision, and it may be able to be changed. |
| Places to get in touch with for advice and help….
Your local children’s reporter is the person who organises the meeting and who would help with any questions you may have about your hearing. For someone to speak to about things that might be worrying you:
You will find more child-friendly information by clicking here |