Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC)

Taking care of our children's well-being and making sure they are alright - even before they are born - helps us ensure the most positive outcomes for them later in life. It gives them the potential to grow up ready to succeed and play their part in society.

Getting it Right for Every Children (GIRFEC) is the Scottish Government’s approach to improve children’s services. The wellbeing of all children and young people is at the heart of GIRFEC. Services must work together with children, young people and their families to provide quick and effective support when it is needed The children and Young People Act (Scotland) 2014 will mean key parts of GIRFEC become law in 2016.

To read more about GIFREC visit the Scottish Government's dedicated GIRFEC page.

For more information on GIRFEC (including 'named person') can also be found on Falkirk Council's GIRFEC pages.

Wellbeing

The Getting it Right approach looks at eight areas of 'well-being'. These are recognised as areas in which children and young people need to progress in order to do well now and in the future. They allow those responsible for the care and support of children - including members of their own families - to look at a situation in a structured way that will help them identify any needs and concerns and plan with the child and family any action they need to take. The eight well-being indicators are:

• Safe

• Healthy

• Achieving

• Nurtured

• Active

• Responsible

• Respected

• Included

The approach gives them a common language and a way to gather information about a child's world, making sure the child is growing and developing, and has everything they need from the people who look after them both at home and in the wider community. It also encourages practitioners to think about who else might need to be involved (for example a teacher might need to contact other professionals to make sure that an education plan with the child and family is meeting all the child's needs).

Child Protection

All children have a right to be protected from harm, abuse and neglect. Children’s Services have an important role in identifying children who have been abused or are at risk of being abused.

Falkirk Council has clear procedures for all staff to follow. Headteachers or designated member of staff are instructed to notify Falkirk Council and Social Work Services when a member of staff has a suspicion that a child might have been abused or be at risk of abuse.

Social Work Services will make a decision on whether or not an investigation is necessary and will advise accordingly. In every situation, the welfare of the child overrides other considerations.

Our child protection policy can is available to download here.