Two SCMA childminders, Liz Stewart and Jackie Brown-Hicks yesterday (Tuesday 31 October 2017) attended the Scottish Parliament with our Chief Executive Maggie Simpson to take part in an Education and Skills Committee Panel to discuss the forthcoming Children and Young People (Information Sharing)(Scotland) Bill.
This Bill is an important piece of legislation and in brief will require Named Persons and certain organisations to consider whether to share information which could support, promote or safeguard well-being and which could be shared within the existing legal framework of human rights law and data protection.
“Liz and Jackie brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the panel about actually running a childminding business,” said Maggie Simpson. “Their focus was to really help MSPs have information and an understanding about what works well for information sharing and what does not. The committee was particularly interested in suggestions on how to improve information sharing and the findings will help ensure the best start in life for every child.”
The Bill will be accompanied by a code of practice to inform practitioners such as childminders, health visitors, teachers and others communicating with named persons and will deal with issues such as consent from the child / relevant parent or guardian.