Meeting the best interests of children facing homelessness guidance consultation event report
By: Published: June 2009
A report highlighting the main points raised at a half-day event run by Shelter to consult on the Scottish Government’s draft guidance on meeting the best interests of children facing homelessness.
Summary
The event was well attended with 23 participants from across the housing, homelessness, health, advice, education and children’s sectors.
The group raised a range of suggestions and questions related to how to improve the guidance, which can be broadly grouped into the following themes (in no particular order):
- Structure and layout of the guidance
- Children are a diverse group with differing needs
- Reinforce corporate responsibility and multi-agency approach
- Greater focus on prevention
- Role of parents in meeting children’s best interests
- Child protection
- Working together and taking responsibility
- Assessment
- Information sharing and confidentiality
- Taking children’s views into account
- Dealing with conflicts of interest
- Provision of accommodation.
