Social work in Scotland against dangers faced by children in the local environment (using the example of the institution of the named person)

Abstract

The inspiration for the publication was a document issued by the Scottish Government regarding cooperation of social assistance and health care for the sake of children and youth in the local environment. It was the fruit of the activities of experts in social economy, social work and education, and the effect of their work was described as the program’s announcement (www.scottishfamilies.gov.uk). The analysis will allow education theoreticians, researchers and practitioners to understand how important it is to ensure both the safety of children and young people, as well as the proper participation of all persons and institutions involved in the process. The text will start with the genesis of “The Getting it Right for Every Child project” (GIRFEC), through the pilot phase of the named person institution in Scotland, to the current responses to the named person’s threat to families, educational and support institutions and society as a whole. The debate on this social support mechanism in Scotland continues and will demand another publication for Polish researchers and practitioners of social work in the future.