These Regulations make provision in connection with the provision of children’s advocacy services under section 122 of the Children’s Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 (“the Act”).

Regulation 2 provides that these Regulations apply where the Scottish Ministers have entered into arrangements for the provision of children’s advocacy services under section 122(5) of the Act.

Regulation 3 provides that child advocacy workers must comply with the National Practice Model for Advocacy within the Children’s Hearings System published by the Scottish Government on 31 March 2020 and available at https://www.gov.scot/publications/advocacy-childrens-hearings-system-national-practice-model-guidance/pages/5/.

Regulation 4 provides that persons are only qualified to act as child advocacy workers when they have successfully completed training and qualification in accordance with that Regulation.

Regulation 5 specifies particular matters that the training must cover.

Regulation 6 makes provision for the payment of fees, expenses and allowances to those providing children’s advocacy services in accordance with arrangements entered into with the Scottish Ministers under section 122(5) of the Act.

Regulation 7 contains a saving provision in respect of persons providing services of support and representation to a child, for the purpose of assisting a child in relation to their involvement in a children’s hearing, which is ongoing when these Regulations come into force. The Scottish Ministers may consent to that person continuing to provide such services until the conclusion of those proceedings, subject to such conditions as the Scottish Ministers consider to be appropriate.