Planning for the individual needs of children and families

Children’s Hearings must be planned for each child and family's individual needs.

Arbitrary time limits for the length of Children’s Hearings should no longer be set.

And more thought must be given to accommodating the needs and preferences of children and their families by:

• being flexible around when a Hearing happens, and
• being flexible around where a Hearing takes place.

For example, it may be appropriate for Hearings to take place:

• later in the afternoon,
• in the evenings, and
• at the weekend.

And it would be appropriate for Hearings to happen in places close to children and families, or places where they feel comfortable and safe.