Moray councillor backs Children's Panel recruitment campaign

A MORAY councillor has backed the latest campaign to attract volunteers to serve on the Children's Panel in Moray and the Highlands.

Councillor Sonya Warren, who is a councillor representative to Children's Hearings Scotland (CHS), the body which runs Children's Panels, stressed the difference volunteers could make to young people's lives.

"As a councillor representative to the Highland and Moray Area Support Team to CHS, I realise the importance of the work that Children's Panel members do.

"They really do come from all walks of life. The ability to be a good listener is so important for an effective panel member.

"The work they do is so beneficial and important to young people when they are often at a very vulnerable point in their lives."

As children’s hearings take place during the week and daytime hours, panel members are normally asked to attend either a morning or an afternoon session twice a month. For those in employment, this usually means asking their employers for time off work.

Since children’s hearings are statutory tribunals – similar to jury duty –, employees have a right to take reasonable time off work to sit on these hearings, as set out in Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Aside from helping young people in local communities, many skills which panel members gain can also be transferred to the workplace. These include leadership, team working, effective communication, influencing and negotiating, analytical thinking, decision making and managing conflict - all vital skills for a successful organisation.

To watch promotional videos that help explain the role and why people may want to get involved, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YLWMNAoOAM&list=PL8xb00bs6p_GaMhVRVOKaW4nGkZBa4rT2

More information, plus an online application form and guidance notes, are available from www.chscotland.gov.uk

Applications are open until 12 noon on Wednesday, February 9.