Welcome to the December 2024 edition of the Bairns’ Hoose newsletter!
To improve accessibility and visibility, we shall be moving away from the PDF newsletter to a blog entry.
In this issue, we shall be covering:
- Bragi Gudbrandsson’s Visit to Scotland
- Bairns’ Hoose Anniversary Event in Aberdeen
- Inauguration of the National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group
- Analysis Update: Indicators Working Group
- Analysis Update: Research Contract
- Funding Update
- Knowledge Exchange
- North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose Celebrates Progress at Report Launch
- Service Launch: Supporting People Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault
- Healthcare and Forensic Medical Services Standards Consultation
Bragi Gudbrandsson’s Visit to Scotland
We were delighted to host a visit to Scotland by Bragi Gudbrandsson, founder of the Barnahus model and vice chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, between 21 and 26 October 2024.
During the week, Bragi Gudbrandsson visited North Strathclyde, Outer Hebrides, Fife, Tayside, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and Sycamore Bairns’ Hoose Partnerships. At each Pathfinder and Affiliate partnership, Bragi Gudbrandsson had the opportunity to learn about the progress being made in each area and share his wisdom with Pathfinder partnerships.
Reflecting on his visit to Scotland, Bragi Gudbrandsson praised the work being carried out in Scotland, stating that “I am truly impressed by Scotland’s commitment to implementing the Bairns’ Hoose model. Throughout my tour, I have witnessed first-hand the dedication and innovative approaches taken by each partnership. Scotland is uniquely positioned to adapt the Barnahus concept, given its robust child protection system and the incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The progress made in just one year is remarkable, and I’m confident that Scotland is setting a new standard in child-centred, trauma-informed care and support that will inspire others across Europe and beyond.”
Bairns’ Hoose Anniversary Event in Aberdeen
During Bragi Gudbrandsson’s visit to Scotland, the Scottish Government, in collaboration with Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the wider Bairns’ Hoose project team, held an anniversary learning event for key stakeholders of the Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder programme in Aberdeen on 24 October 2024.
The venue, Aberdeen Town House, was kindly provided by Aberdeen City Council and welcomed over 100 attendees from across Scotland. The event featured pre-recorded video speeches from Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise; and Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Social Work, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, highlighting the importance of the Bairns’ Hoose programme in improving services for Scotland’s most vulnerable children.
The event celebrated the Pathfinder programme’s first-year success, acknowledged ongoing challenges, and helped establish stronger connections between different partnerships.
The Scottish Government will publish materials from the event on the Bairns’ Hoose website once necessary permissions are secured.
Read more about the Bairns’ Hoose Pathfinder Anniversary Event and its milestone achievements.
Inauguration of the National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group
The National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group held its inaugural meeting on 24 September 2024. This new group brings together key partners from across Scotland, including representatives from justice, health, social work, and child protection services.
The National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group serves as an advisory body to Scottish Ministers on implementing the Bairns’ Hoose model across Scotland. Its membership includes representatives from Pathfinder and Affiliate partnerships, and a range of national organisations directly involved in the delivery of Bairns’ Hoose in Scotland.
The group will meet three times a year, with the next meetings scheduled for January and May 2025. Their work supports the Scottish Government’s vision, values and approach for Bairns’ Hoose and focuses on developing national solutions to local implementation challenges.
Analysis Update: Indicators Working Group
The Scottish Government has established a working group to develop core quantitative indicators for measuring Bairns’ Hoose implementation and outcomes across Scotland. The group includes representatives from all Pathfinder and Affiliate partnerships, national stakeholders and children’s participation workers to ensure young people’s voices are included.
Two productive meetings were held in September and November 2024, focusing on identifying key measurement areas. The group aims to create an ambitious yet practical data collection framework that will help local authorities with implementation and improvement strategies without creating unnecessary burden.
The final indicator set and reporting template are expected to be completed by summer 2025, with the first data collection planned for late 2025/early 2026. Only aggregated statistics will be collected, with no sharing of personal data.
Analysis Update: Research Contract
The Scottish Government has appointed Ipsos Scotland to conduct qualitative research with key professionals from Pathfinder partnerships. The project, which runs from November 2024 to March 2026, will also include analysis of StART 2 submissions and other analytical tasks.
This work will contribute to our understanding of the Bairns’ Hoose programme’s implementation and will feed in the development of the national Bairns’ Hoose blueprint. Updates on the project will be shared in future newsletters.
Funding Update
All partnerships submitted their interim progress reports at the end of October. Impact Funding Partners (IFP) is currently reviewing these reports for the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government is also actively considering the funding model for 2025 to 2026 and is engaging with key stakeholders to seek their views.
The Scottish Government will publish further information concerning the funding model for 2025 to 2026 once the details have been finalised.
Knowledge Exchange
The Bairns’ Hoose programme has hosted a variety of knowledge exchange sessions between August and November 2024, bringing together national and international expertise. Recent highlights include:
- International insights from Hungary, Norway and Finland’s Barnahus experiences
- North Strathclyde’s Phase 2 Evaluation findings
- Practical sessions on health assessments, court processes and interagency working
- The Anniversary Event in Aberdeen featuring Bragi Gudbrandsson
The next session will explore Interviews in the Bairns’ Hoose (17 December 2024). Healthcare Improvement Scotland is currently coordinating the 2025 programme of events based on feedback and suggestions, which will be shared once finalised.
We are pleased to announce that recordings of previous webinars will soon be available on the Bairns’ Hoose website, making this valuable knowledge accessible to all interested parties.
North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose Celebrates Progress at Report Launch
The University of Edinburgh hosted the launch of the North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose Phase Two Findings Report on 18 September 2024. Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, joined key partners to celebrate the programme’s achievements.
The report highlights significant progress, showing that the North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose has become the preferred location for Joint Investigative Interviews, conducting 68% of all interviews. Additionally, the Children First Recovery Team has supported 153 children and their families since September 2023.
During the event, Ms Don-Innes reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to the programme, noting the investment of nearly £10 million since the Pathfinder launch. The government aims to ensure all children who have experienced abuse or violence will have access to trauma-informed support and justice through Bairns’ Hoose.
Read the full story about the North Strathclyde Bairns’ Hoose Report launch event.
Service Launch: Supporting People Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault
NHS Lothian has officially opened new facilities providing specialist support services in Edinburgh. The Sycamore Sexual Assault Response Coordination Service (SARCS) for adults and two Bairns’ Hoose children’s houses were launched by Jenni Minto MSP, Minister for Public and Women’s Health.
Developed through a £3 million Scottish Government investment, these services bring together NHS Lothian, Police Scotland, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and local authorities to provide coordinated support in comfortable, welcoming environments.
The Sycamore SARCS, operational since 2023, and the Bairns’ Hoose services, which opened in April 2024, offer trauma-informed care under one roof, ensuring people can access the support they need in safe, person-centred spaces.
Healthcare and Forensic Medical Services Standards Consultation
Healthcare Improvement Scotland is updating its standards for healthcare and forensic medical services for people who have experienced rape, sexual assault or child sexual abuse. These new standards will replace the existing 2017 guidance.
The draft standards cover important areas including person-centred care, staff training, responding to disclosures, and specific considerations for children and young people. We welcome feedback from all interested parties to help shape these crucial standards.
The public consultation is now open and will run until 6 January 2025. Your views are important in ensuring these standards meet the needs of people accessing these vital services.
Share your feedback through Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s online consultation survey.