Better Hearings: Standards For Children's Hearings.pdf

Let you know 15 days in advance where and when your Hearing will happen.
Make sure you have all the papers you need for your Hearing 5 days before it.
Ask if you would like to visit the Hearings Centre before you come for your Hearing.
Listen to you about any anything that could be done to make the Hearing better and do all we can to make sure this happens.
Tell you who will be there and explain why they have been invited.
Let you know that you can ask for a representative or advocate to support you and help you find one if you want to.
Ask if you want to attend in person. If you don’t we will ask what other ways you would like to give your views. We will discuss your attendance at the Hearing including how you would like to participate.
Reports and information for your Hearing – we will:
Ask for your views when writing reports and make sure that they are included.
Make sure that the information we send you is clear and understandable.
Focus on the current issues in your life in reports for your Hearing.
Make sure that the professionals coming to your Hearing have shared information so that they are fully prepared.
Respect your confidentiality by keeping your information safe and making sure those that only those who need to will see it.

During the Hearing, we will:
Make sure you feel and are safe when you are in the Hearings Centre.
Running the Hearing – we will:
Make sure that your Hearing will start and finish on time, or last only as long as necessary.
Make sure the Chairperson of your Hearing explains at the very start why it is being held, how it will be run and who will speak when – so that this is clear to everyone. The Chairperson will ask everyone to explain who they are and why they are there.
Discuss things during the Hearing that are currently important and relevant.
Make sure all discussions are as short, clear and understandable as possible.
Helping you give your views – we will:
Ask you how you would like to give your views (e.g. speaking to you first, speaking to the Panel Members alone or with a representative or advocate speaking for you) and make sure this happens. If you do not want to give your views we will respect that.
Make sure that you are at the centre of your Hearing and that everyone else will respect that.
Decisions – we will:
Clearly explain the decision made and what your rights are.
Make decisions that are in your best interests, although you might not always agree with them.
Make sure you have the chance to ask any questions and that these are answered.

After the Hearing, we will:
Make sure after your Hearing someone will answer any questions you have and explain what the decision means (such as - where you stay and how often you can see people who are important to you).
Send you the written decision within 5 days and answer any questions you might have.
Make sure the written decision is clear and understandable.
Include the Hearing’s decision in your Child’s Plan and make sure your Plan properly reflects it.
Your rights – we will:
Provide a private space for you to speak to people after the Hearing.
Explain your rights to disagree and challenge the decision (this is called an appeal) and how to do this.
Explain your right to request another Hearing (this is called an early review) and how to do this.
Help you to ask for another Hearing.
Listen to you about what would make your next Hearing better and make sure this happens.