South Ayrshire Children's Panel
Introduction
South Ayrshire Children's Panel currently has 45 members. Two members perform the
role of Joint Children's Panel Chairs. All members are volunteers, are a variety
of different ages, have various different types of job and come from all walks of
life. No payment is made to these volunteers for their services to the Children's
Panel but 'out of pocket' expenses are paid. Children's Panel members are recruited
on an annual basis and appointed, by the Scottish Government, for a period of three
years.
All Children's Panel members must undertake pre-service training prior to taking
part in a Hearing. This generally takes place between January and May of each year.
Training is undertaken by the Children's Panel Training Organisers who are based
at the University of Glasgow. Monthly local training evenings are also held throughout
the year, in the County Buildings, Ayr, which must be attended. Specialist training
will be organised as and when required.
On average Children's Panel members will be required to attend monthly training
evenings, and ad hoc training as and when required. Panel members will usually require
to sit on two hearings per month, time must also be set aside to read case papers
prior to attending a Hearing. Their performance is monitored twice a year by members
of the Children's Panel Advisory Committee (CPAC).