Bairns’ Hoose pathfinder for Tayside moves forward

A Bairns’ Hoose pathfinder project will be taken forward in Tayside in partnership between Dundee City Council, Angus Council, Perth and Kinross Council, Police Scotland and NHS Tayside.  

Bairns’ Hoose pathfinders will provide coordinated child-centred and trauma-informed support from all agencies who support children and young people who have been harmed or who are witnesses to harm, with services including child protection and justice, healthcare, education and therapeutic support, as a blueprint for full implementation across Scotland in 2025. 

Funded by the Scottish Government, the Bairns’ Hoose is based on the ‘Barnahus’ child advocacy model first implemented in 1998 in Iceland. 

Dundee City Council’s Children, Families and Communities Depute Convener Roisin Smith said: “This project will ensure that alongside our partners in Tayside, take a child-centred approach to supporting children who have experienced trauma. 

"Through this work, we want to have the right support and services in place to support child victims and witness of abuse and harm. I look forward to taking this project forward and improving outcomes for our young people and families.” 

Angus Council’s Convenor of Children and Learning, Cllr Lynne Devine said: “Bringing the Bairns’ Hoose pathfinder to Tayside is an exciting opportunity to connect services around the needs of the young person and their family. It gives Angus Council the chance to further develop our approach to ensuring young people get the support they need at a particularly difficult time in their lives.” 

Learning and Families Convener with Perth and Kinross Council, Councillor John Rebbeck said: “Children and young people who come into the care and justice systems are often affected by harm and trauma in their lives and through the Bairns’ Hoose approach across Tayside we will be able to develop our successful multi-agency child protection collaboration.  The aims of the Pathfinder project also fully complement our commitment to The Promise for children and young people with care experience.” 

Hazel Robertson, Perth and Kinross Council’s Head of Service for Children, Young People and Families said: “I am very pleased that the Tayside bid been selected as one of the national Pathfinders for the Bairns’ Hoose. This is an excellent opportunity to build on the strengths of our existing partnerships and to ensure that children, young people and families in Perth and Kinross have access to skilled, trauma-informed support when they are experiencing very stressful circumstances.” 

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