About SCCYP

FAQs

What is a Commissioner for Children and Young People?
There are now commissioners - or ombudsmen - in 31 countries. What each does, and how they do it, varies from country to country, but most are there to promote and protect the rights and welfare of children and young people.

Who is Scotland's Commissioner?
Tam Baillie became Scotland's second Commissioner in May 2009, after a selection process which included him being interviewed by children and young people. Although Tam was nominated by the Scottish Parliament for appointment by the Queen, the Commissioner for Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2003, he is independent of both Parliament and the Scottish Government. Tam was appointed for a period of two years, with the possibility of a further one year period.

Tam has worked as a manager and practitioner with children and young people for 30 years, primarily with young offenders; young people in and leaving care; and young homeless people. Working in Scotland and England and in both the statutory and voluntary sectors, Tam moved into the policy field in order to help address the strategic and structural needs necessary to affect lasting change. He worked as the Director of Policy for Barnardo’s from 2003 and has held the position of Chair of the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights.


Scotland's first Commissioner was Kathleen Marshall, who was in post from April 2004 to April 2009.



What does Scotland's Commissioner do?
The Commissioner promotes and safeguards the rights of children and young people.
In particular he:
• Promotes awareness and understanding of the rights of children and young people, with particular emphasis on the rights set out in the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Monitors the law, policy and practice for effectiveness in relation to the rights of children and young people
• Promotes best practice by service providers working with children and young people
• Commissions, carries out and publishes research on issues relating to the rights of children and young people

The Commissioner in Scotland does not intervene in individual cases. Individual cases, however, can highlight issues affecting a broader group of children and young people and these issues can then be investigated by the Commissioner. The Commissioner also actively encourages children and young people to be involved in his work.


How does the Commissioner define children and young people in Scotland?
The Commissioner includes all children and young people under 18, and all children and young people up to 21 who have been in care or looked after by a local authority, and are living in Scotland.

What does the Commissioner's team do?
The Commissioner works from an office, situated close to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, where he is supported by a staff team of 14, who track policy and legislation through the Parliament, monitor the delivery of services to children and young people, help children and young people participate in the work of the Commissioner and provide an information and enquiries service.