Children's hearings redesign

Criteria for implementing a secure accommodation authorisation will continue to apply under section 151 of the 2011 Act and the Scottish Government will consider any amendments required to secondary legislation to support implementation of the 2024 Act. As things stand, regulation 10 of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (Implementation of Secure Accommodation Authorisation) (Scotland) Regulations 2013 sets out arrangements for review of a child’s secure placement where they are subject to a relevant order with a secure accommodation authorisation. It requires that the relevant chief social work officer must review the placement from time to time and carry out the following mandatory reviews:

• a first review within 7 days of the placement,
• a second review within 1 month from the date of the first review, and
• thereafter, subsequent reviews within 1 month from the date of the previous review.

A review must also be carried out whenever the child or relevant person requests one.