This is the second edition of statutory guidance issued by Scottish Ministers under section 15 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 (the Act). This revised guidance has been developed as a result of a public consultation which ran from 25 March 2019 to 17 June 2019, and will therefore relate to Children’s Services Plans from 1 April 2020 onwards.
This guidance provides local authorities and health boards, working in partnership with other public bodies and organisations, with information and advice about how they should exercise the functions conferred by Part 3 (Children’s Services Planning) of the Act.
Part 3 of the Act seeks to improve outcomes for all children and young people in Scotland by ensuring that local planning and delivery of services is integrated, focused on securing quality and value through preventative approaches, and dedicated to safeguarding, supporting and promoting child wellbeing. It aims to ensure that any action to meet need is taken at the earliest appropriate time and that, where appropriate, this is taken to prevent need arising. To this end, Part 3 sets out a legal framework for children’s services planning, including its scope and aims.
