Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC)

What is GIRFEC?

• Scotland’s approach to supporting children and young people

• A framework for all services working with children and families to deliver a coordinated approach

• Builds on existing good practice in Scotland• English equivalent is Every Child Matters

Key features

• All services – social work, health, education, police, housing and voluntary organisations – are required to adapt their practices and work together,

• particularly on information sharing• Encourages earlier intervention by professionals

to avoid crisis situations at a later date

GIRFEC in the Scottish Highlands

Photo: http://kids.britannica.com/elementary/art-89236

• Improving outcomes for children and families

• Changing professional practice

• Changing professional cultures

Improving outcomes for children and families

Examples of progress•The number of children on the Child Protection Register has fallen

•The length of time looked-after children have been waiting for permanent and adoptive placements has fallen

Changing professional practice

Examples of progress•Procedures for working with children and young people are more streamlined and consistent

•Staff are working more effectively on a multi-agency level

•Training in new ways of working has improved staff confidence and capability

Changing professional cultures

Examples of progress

•True sense of ownership of GIRFEC amongst professionals working with children and young people

•A common language is used across all the services and agencies involved

•Child is placed at centre of process – focus on outcomes rather than outputs

What makes successful culture change?

•A shared vision across all services•Professionals reflecting on their role, and how, as individuals they can effect positive change•Leadership demonstrated at all service levels•Staff training for current and future changes•Consistent and shared systems for recording and assessing impact of culture change

Example of multi agency workingWithScotlandA multi-agency resource for people working with complex child protection issues•advice,•expertise•training •research

http://withscotland.org

IRISS uses Wikipedia to share information about GIRFEC and place it within worldwide approaches to child protection:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getting_it_Right_for_Every_Child_-_GIRFEC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_protection#United_Kingdom

Bryan Kirkaldy, Chair of Getting it Right Working Group, talks about Fife Council’s

approach to GIRFEC