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25 J. Soc. Welfare & Fam. L. 1 (2003)

handle is hein.journals/jnlosclwl25 and id is 1 raw text is: Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law Routledge 25(1) 2003: 1-21 . Taylor&FrcisGoup Safeguarding children's interests in welfare proceedings: the Scottish experience Malcolm Hill Centre for the Child and Society University of Glasgow Glasgow Andrew Lockyer Department of Politics, University of Glasgow Peter Morton Postgraduate Research Student, Glasgow Coledonian University Susan Batchelor Department of Sociology and Anthropology University of Glasgow Jane Scott University of Loughborough and Glasgow, Centre for the Child and Society Abstract: Against a backdrop of new arrangements for representing children's interests in England, this paper examines the role of 'safeguarders' in Scottish children's hearings. Safeguarders may be appointed by children's hearings and sheriffs when it is in the child's interests to do so. Recent research conducted by the authors revealed that the performance of most safeguarders is very well regarded. However, the arrangements for recruitment, training, monitoring and support are highly variable and often limited. The independence of safeguarders is widely supported. Certain aspects of the organization of the service and of the processes for allocating individual safeguarders to particular cases raise questions about consistency and independence. Keywords: representation, safeguarder, children's hearings, children's rights Introduction Since 2001, the system in England for representing children's interests before the courts in civil child protection and matrimonial cases has embarked upon major change through the introduction of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS). In Scotland, safeguarders may Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law ISSN 0141-8033 print/ISSN 1469-9621 online © 2003 Taylor & Francis Ltd http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals DOI: 10.1080/0964906032000086223