SCHEDULE 2The Children’s Panel
(introduced by section 4)
Recruitment and tenure of panel members
1(1)The National Convener may make arrangements for the recruitment of persons as members of the Children’s Panel (a person appointed as a member being referred to in this schedule as a “panel member”).
(2)It is for the National Convener to appoint persons as panel members from those recruited under sub-paragraph (1).
(3)The National Convener must reappoint as a panel member a person whose appointment has ceased unless—
(a)the person declines to be reappointed, or
(b)the National Convener is satisfied that sub-paragraph (4) applies.
(4)This sub-paragraph applies if the person is unfit to be a panel member by reason of—
(a)inability,
(b)conduct, or
(c)failure without reasonable excuse to comply with any training requirements imposed by the National Convener.
(5)The period for which a person is appointed or reappointed as a panel member is 3 years.
(6)The National Convener may, with the consent of the Lord President of the Court of Session, remove a panel member during the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (5) if satisfied that sub-paragraph (4) applies.
List of panel members
2(1)The National Convener must publish a list setting out in relation to each panel member—
(a)the member’s name,
(b)the local authority area in which the member resides, and
(c)if the member works, the local authority area in which the member works.
(2)The National Convener must make the list available for public inspection.
Training
3(1)The National Convener may train, or make arrangements for the training of, panel members and potential panel members.
(2)The National Convener must take reasonable steps to involve persons who are under 25 years of age and in respect of whom a children’s hearing has been held in the development and delivery of training under sub-paragraph (1).
(3)The National Convener must, in training (or making arrangements for the training of) panel members under sub-paragraph (1), have regard to the need to provide training on how panel members may best elicit the views of a child to whom a children’s hearing relates.
(4)The National Convener may monitor the performance of panel members.
Allowances
4(1)The National Convener may, with the approval of the Scottish Ministers, determine the allowances to be paid to—
(a)panel members,
(b)potential panel members.
(2)Different determinations may be made for different cases or different classes of case.
(3)The National Convener may pay to panel members and potential panel members allowances determined under sub-paragraph (1).