To ask a really stupid question?

[tral]

I'm in my first month of my postgrad social work. I'm finding the whole course overwhelming at the moment and am doubting my ability to do it to be honest.

I have a question that is probably so stupid so I am embarrassed to even ask it in real life. I'm struggling when it comes to legislation, I don't understand so say for example you have The Childrens Act (Scotland) 1995 and then there is The Childrens Act (Scotland) 2020.

Does the 2020 Act override the 1995 Act? I have been looking at the legislation and each act covers different things so I'm confused.

For example the 1995 act covers parental responsibilities and rights whereas the 2020 act covers vulnerable witnesses etc.

There's also a Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.

How do you know which one to use when dealing with a case? Do you just take sections out of each that are relevant? I really do not understand it at all.

Are the newer acts not just amended but include the older r legislation?
I used to be a mental health nurse, so I'm going off the mental health act it started in 1983 ,but there have been further ammendments since then ,but the old act still stands if that makes sense?

The old act is the original one. The subsequent ones amend and add to the original one (I think).

Basically yes - as others say the new act often amends the previous one. Read the intro of the new one, it explains exactly what it does.

Both Acts are in force but the 2020 Act has modified (rewritten) parts of the 1995 Act. Normally if you go on legislation.gov. They will have incorporated all the changes into the online version.

So the 2020 Act will say something like s2(a) of the 1995 act is amended to include at the end of that section “not on a Wednesday”

If you go to s2(a) of the 1995 Act online it would have those words added.

Don't worry OP.
It's like learning a new language, at first it sounds overwhelming, eventually it clicks in place.
Don't doubt yourself.