Information about SCRA

SCRA’s role and purpose

Focused on children and young people most at risk, SCRA’s role and purpose is to:

• Make effective decisions about a need to refer a child/young person to a Children’s Hearing
• Prepare for and participate in court proceedings where statement of grounds or Hearings findings are appealed and ensure the wellbeing of children and young people – particularly vulnerable witnesses – are protected throughout the court process
• Support Panel Members (though we are not involved in making Hearing decisions) and ensure fair process in Hearings
• Enable children, young people and families to participate in Hearings
• Disseminate information and data to influence, inform and reassure
• Provide premises for Hearings to take place; and to
• Work collaboratively with partners to support and facilitate the Getting it Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) agenda.

SCRA has nine localities, supported by a Head Office. The nine localities are: Highland, Moray & Western Isles; North Strathclyde; Glasgow; Grampian; South East; Tayside & Fife; Ayrshire; Central; and Lanarkshire/Dumfries & Galloway.

The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) is a national body focused on children and young people most at risk. SCRA was formed under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 and became fully operational on 1st April 1996. Our main responsibilities as set out in the Act are:

• To facilitate the work of Children’s Reporters,
• To deploy and manage staff to carry out that work,
• To provide suitable accommodation for Children’s Hearings.

The Children’s Hearings System provides the operational setting in which SCRA and our partner agencies work. The aim is to provide a safety net for vulnerable children and young people, and deliver tailored solutions which meet the needs of the individuals involved, while helping to build stronger families and safer communities.

About SCRA – BSL information

We have a short BSL film available which explains the role of SCRA. It also contains sub titles and audio.