Children (Scotland) Act 2020

Register for child welfare reporters

9 Establishment of register

(1) The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 is modified as follows.

(2) After section 101 insert—

“101A Register for child welfare reporters

(1) A court may only appoint as a child welfare reporter a person who is included on the register maintained in accordance with subsection (2).

(2) The Scottish Ministers must establish and maintain a register of persons who may be appointed to act as a child welfare reporter.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may by regulations make provision for or in connection with—

(a) the requirements that a person must satisfy in order to be included, and remain, on the register (including requirements as to training and qualifications),

(b) the processes for including a person on, and removing a person from, the register (including appeal rights),

(c) the process for how, and by whom, a registered person is to be selected as the appointed child welfare reporter in a case,

(d) the remuneration by the Scottish Ministers of child welfare reporters, including expenses and outlays,

(e) the operation and management of the register.

(4) Before making, revising or revoking regulations under subsection (3), the Scottish Ministers must consult persons with lived experience of—

(a) domestic abuse,

(b) court-ordered contact.

(5) Regulations under subsection (3) are subject to the negative procedure.”.