Non-Disclosure Requests

Non-disclosure requests at a Children’s Hearing and Pre-Hearing Panels

It is important that professionals have a good understanding of non-disclosure in the Children’s Hearings System.

When arranging a Children’s Hearing or Pre-Hearing Panel, the Reporter will provide the members of the Children’s Hearing with copies of reports and other documents about the child or young person. The Reporter will send the same papers to the child (if they are old enough to understand the papers) or young person and the relevant persons. Unless one of the other non-disclosure provisions apply (see the good practice guide below), the Reporter is only able to withhold any information in the papers from someone if a non-disclosure request has been made.

A non-disclosure request may be made by any person. The request must specify what information within the Hearing (or Pre-Hearing Panel) papers is to be withheld from whom, and why. The Reporter must withhold the specified information from the specified individual and refer the request to the Children’s Hearing (or Pre-Hearing Panel). The Hearing (or Pre-Hearing Panel) will decide whether to agree to the request.

Making a non-disclosure request

If making a non-disclosure request in relation to information, partners should use the SCRA non-disclosure Request Form – Form 3. Partners should also provide the Full Details of Information Form – Form 4.

Good practice guidance

SCRA has published a guidance document providing partners with information about making a non-disclosure request.

The Children’s Hearings Improvement Partnership (CHIP) has also produced a good practice guide to Non-disclosure of information in the Children’s Hearings System.

Any questions?

If you have any questions about making a non-disclosure request, please contact the Reporter. Details for all our local teams are available in the Contact Us section of our website.