Named Person plan ‘may involve housing officers’

From 31 August of this year, a ‘named person’ will be appointed to monitor the welfare of every child in Scotland. This person will act as a single point of contact, with the ability to share information with social and other services if there is cause for concern about the way a child is behaving or being brought up.

It is being operated as a pilot scheme in several areas of the country including the Highlands, Edinburgh, Fife, Angus and South Ayrshire.

According to the No to Named Persons (NO2NP) campaign, documents produced at meetings held to oversee how the scheme will be put into practice stated that “housing officers should be telling Named Persons what they see in your home”.

The Home Education Forums, which support the NO2NP campaign, analysed detailed documentation from the board meetings.

One document from March 2012 stated the “importance of linking in with housing personnel was also raised, as they are often the only ones going into a house”.

Another dated February 2013 read: “working with housing was very productive as they had access to information and were supportive”.

The role that could be played by charities and voluntary groups was discussed in a document dated June 2012.

An SNP spokesman told The Scotsman: “We are clear that we want everyone to take responsibility for protecting and promoting children’s well-being. Most people would view this as a good thing.

“The Named Person scheme is supported by every major children’s charity, as well as Scottish Police Federation who say it would ‘help keep children safer’ – and it is already working well in a range of local authorities across Scotland.”