Getting to grips with GIRFEC

Over the next few weeks children will be visiting their new nursery, school, classroom before starting the new term in August.

As well as getting to know their new teachers and class mates they will also find out about what ‘Getting it right for Every Child’ will mean for them.

Getting it right for Every Child’ or GIRFEC,is a national policy to help all children and young people grow, develop and reach their full potential. Its focus is to improve outcomes for children and their families based on a shared understanding of their wellbeing. It puts children and young people at the heart of everything we do.

The majority of children and young people in Moray will receive all the help and support they need from their families and communities, but for those who need some extra support, the first person to turn to will be their Named Person.

From August 2016 every child and young person (0-18) will have a Named Person. From birth to starting primary school it will usually be the health visitor, in primary school it will usually be the head teacher and in secondary school it will usually be the guidance teacher.

Anyone who has a wellbeing concern about a child can contact the named person who will work with the family, and other professionals if needed, to resolve the concern.

Understanding what ensures a child’s wellbeing it another part of the GIRFEC policy. All children should feel safe, healthy, active, nurtured, achieving, respected, responsible and included. If we can achieve that in Moray we hope that all our children will be successful students, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens.

Corporate Director (Education and Social Care), Laurence Findlay, said that getting it right for every child means effective partnership working with parents and carers.

“We are committed to working with all parents and carers as well as our wider partners to ensure we all have a shared understanding of GIRFEC and the role and purpose of the Named Person service,” he said.

“Parents will be issued with information leaflets at key transition points to outline the purposes of the GIRFEC agenda and we hope this will raise everyone’s awareness of what we are hoping to achieve.”

Pic of Laurence Findlay in ‘Contacts’ under group ‘senior management’ 

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 92,500 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.