To have not heard of the Child Guardian Legislation

[mrscumberbatch]

This is due to be put in place by 2016.

In my opinion it's a violation of human rights. Overly invasive and undermines the role of parents.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28078483 bbc link

Has anyone actually heard of this?

[mrscumberbatch]

Bbc link that might actually work

[Icimoi]

I don't get how it's supposed to work. Does anyone know?

Apart from anything else, it sounds incredibly expensive. There must be more targeted ways of dealing with the problems this is supposed to solve.

[ghostyslovesheep]

not sure what's bad about it? can you expand on your objections

[Fabulous46]

It's already in place. I really don't understand why people get so annoyed and upset about it.

[mrscumberbatch]

If its already in place then how are they putting money into it as a new initiative?

[mrscumberbatch]

I think it's a huge waste of money as these roles were traditionally covered by health visitors/GP's/school Headteachers etc
I don't see how this additional 'layer' is going to benefit families.

[ghostyslovesheep]

that's a fair point but I don't get your human rights comment

[Fabulous46]

It's already in place. I really don't understand why people get so annoyed and upset about it. It's called GIRFEC (Getting It Right For Every Child). It's not about big brother watching anyone or judging their parenting skills. It's simply professionals working together for children who need multi disciplinary input. The press had a field day with stories such as these scaremongering parents.

[nhsworker15]

The named professional will still be the HV for under 5s, then head teacher for primary kids, then I think the guidance teacher ( but not sure) for secondary school. This is different, because every child will have a named professional, not just kids who are vulnerable or at risk. And other professionals have a duty to report any concerns to that named professional.

[Fabulous46]

The article linked was from June 2014.

I think it's a huge waste of money as these roles were traditionally covered by health visitors/GP's/school Headteachers etc

It still is covered by the same people. As usual the press make a mountain out of a molehill.

[Fabulous46]

Sorry for incomplete posts. My internet is playing up tonight because of the winds.

[mrscumberbatch]

If it is as you describe nhs worker- then I honestly don't see much difference between how it operated in the 1990's (my school days.) compared to now.

And keeping that in mind I couldn't justify rolling out whatever this new process is at such a large expense to families who don't require it?

[Fabulous46]

link to GIRFEC

[mrscumberbatch]

So we're paying more for bureaucracy?

I thought this country was supposed to be skint

[Andrewofgg]

Scotland is welcome to it. Not for us in England, now or I hope ever.

[m4corridor]

Totally agree OP. The Scottish government doesn't appear to trust parents to look after their own children without enforced state monitoring.

Mind you, their government doesn't trust the Scottish people in other ways; a perfectly legal and decent transaction between consenting adults, renting out a house, also now requires state interference and monitoring in Scotland, in the form of landlord registration under the antisocial behaviour legislation. You couldn't make it up.

The "Young Scot" and other entitlement cards for OAP bus passes and library cards - ID cards by the back door.

What does one make of a government that views the people with suspicion, infantilises them, and wants to track their every move?

[sconequeen]

M4corridor

I'm pretty bolshie about state intrusion into my life but I'm afraid I don't agree with anything you've just said.

GIRFEC makes sense and helps protect vulnerable children better to make sure they don't fall into a gap between one service and another. It will not have any impact on families who are not experiencing problems.

There is a need for landlord registration. It is a way of making sure, for example, that people aren't gassed by unserviced gas appliances or done out of their deposits. (And I have been a landlord registered under the scheme so know what I am talking about.)

And have you ever been asked to show a Young Scot card, OAP bus pass or library card for any thing other than its intended purpose?

[PhaedraIsMyName]

M4Corridor whilst I think the every child gets a named guardian is nonsense and am frequently critical of what comes out of Holyrood you're wildly exaggerating.

The Landlord Registration is no big deal and no great inconvenience.

Re your other complaints how exactly would you suggest those services be accessed without the requisite cards? I'm sure library cards and bus passes aren't unique to Scotland.

[m4corridor]

Consideration of the database behind the ID / Entitlement cards, and function creep, is essential. Just because they can doesn't mean they should. no2id.net has expert opinion and information.

A computer readable card along with a database is different from a cardboard card, and there are many ways of accessing services without having to create a massive database alongside the card all at vast expense.

Landlord registration does not make sure that gas appliances etc are serviced. The practical legislation to enforce building standards and safety checks already existed. Deposits are protected by other legislation. I've no clue what landlord registration provides apart from putting personal details on a database, for a fee, so I guess is another nice little earner and job justification for councils. Why create more unnecessary legislation when it costs us, the taxpayer, money, to create and maintain fairly pointless databases? But of course we've got loads of money spare, haven't we! The database may of course put landlords at risk because this information is publicly available, and is certainly a breech of privacy. England doesn't require landlord registration for all and sundry.

As for the child protection industry, the biggest abuser of children seems to be the state, in one form or another. Individuals in positions of authority either committing, condoning or ignoring appalling abuse en masse. "It will not have any impact on families who are not experiencing problems" - the validity of that statement relies on the individuals acting on behalf of the state being completely error-proof, with no personal ambitions or issues to modify their decision-making processes, and making the correct judgement every time. The power underlying the legislation is frightening, and we shouldn't have to live in fear of an all-powerful state, monitoring and recording us from the womb to the grave. Legislation should seek to limit the powers of the state, not put all of us under mass surveillance.

"Wildly exaggerating" - over the last 20 years the population has been groomed to accept increasing levels of state intrusion, information collection, and databasing. If you've never lived in another era or country you won't even recognise it.

[RubyReins]

The named person provision is presently being challenged in court as a disproportionate interference with Article 8 (right to family life etc) rights, which I personally believe it to be.

[Nomama]

I was coming to post about the challenge, Ruby. I wasn't surprised the challenge was brought, just surprised it happened so quickly!

[RubyReins]

They did mobilise quickly!

[RubyReins]

And the challenge was unsuccessful.

[littlejohnnydory]

What happens to home educated children who don't have a head teacher to act as the 'named adult'? Does this bring a compulsion for Scottish home educators to register?

[florascotia]

One important point - Bus Passes and Young Scot passes are voluntary. You have to apply for one; it's your choice. If you don't want one, you can ignore the whole system ....