Applications to open for "Bairns' Hoose" funding

The Scottish Government is to open applications for a share of a fund to support the new "Bairns' Hoose" facilities for assessing and counselling children who have undergone traumatic experiences.

Local authorities, health boards, police and third sector organisations will be required to partner together to apply for a share of the £6m fund provided for 2023-24. Five multi-agency test sites are expected to be created, with learning from the sites providing a blueprint for a full pilot of Bairns’ Hoose in 2025.

Following the Barnahus model developed in Nordic countries, the Bairns' Hoose will offer healthcare including therapeutic support, child protection, recovery, and justice services, such as:

• assessment of protection needs and involving the child in decisions that affect them;
• police and social work led joint investigative interviews, including deployment of the new Scottish Child Interview Model, to facilitate children  sharing evidence at the earliest opportunity, minimising the risk of further trauma;
• health and wellbeing assessments;
• counselling services that provide support for both the child and wider family.

Children below the age of criminal responsibility, whose behaviour has caused harm, will also have access to Bairns’ Hoose.

Natalie Don, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise, commented: "We want to prevent children being retraumatised and to improve the experience of the justice and care processes for children and families. These test sites will trial what a Bairns’ Hoose could mean in reality for children and their families, as well as for the professionals who will work to support with them. This funding marks a significant step in the development of Bairns’ Hoose in Scotland, and offers us a chance to provide wrap around care, recovery and justice for children in a way which best responds to their trauma, needs and circumstances."

Jackie Irvine, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, added: "The Care Inspectorate is proud to have partnered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland to develop the Bairns’ Hoose standards. We also commend the significant efforts of partner agencies, and children and families with lived experience, who contributed to this important work.

"It will deliver transformative change by supporting children who have experienced or witnessed abuse in Scotland with professionals working together ‘under one roof’ covering protection, health, recovery and justice services, and with consistent therapeutic support available throughout.

"Establishing a network of Bairns’ Hooses will help us to collectively uphold the rights of children and families to compassionate and effective intervention and support in line with the UNCRC and Promise principles."