The Children (Scotland) Act centres on the needs of children and their families and defines both parental responsibilities and rights in relation to children. It sets out the duties and powers available to public authorities to support children and their families and to intervene when the child's welfare requires it.

The essential principles behind the Act are:

·         each child has a right to be treated as an individual

·         each child who can form a view on matters affecting him or her has the right to express those views if he or she so wishes

·         parents should normally be responsible for the upbringing of their children and should share that responsibility

·         each child has the right to protection from all forms of abuse, neglect or exploitation

·         so far as is consistent with safeguarding and promoting the child's welfare, the public authority should promote the upbringing of children by their families

·         any intervention by a public authority in the life of a child must be properly justified and should be supported by services from all relevant agencies working in collaboration.

Link to the Act

Further Information:

Guidance documents:
Volume 1 
Volume 2 
Volume 3 
Volume 4