A children's hearing must consider whether to appoint a person to safeguard the interests of the child to whom the children's hearing relates (a “safeguarder”).

A children's hearing may appoint a safeguarder at any time when the children's hearing is still deciding matters in relation to the child.

A children's hearing must record an appointment made under subsection (2).

If a children's hearing appoints a safeguarder, it must give reasons for its decision.

Subsection (1) does not apply where a safeguarder has already been appointed.