Site Directory
Social Care and Health
Children and Families
Childrens' Rights
About The Service
Who can use the Children's Rights Service?
Any young person who:
- has been placed away from home and lives in foster care, a children's home, a residential school or secure care
- has moved on from care
Anyone can ask for help from the Children's Rights Service, but the Children's Rights Officer will only get involved with the agreement of the young person.
What can the Children's Rights Officer do?
- Give young people information and advice about their rights. The Children's Rights Service has an information pack. If you would like a copy please contact the Children's Rights Officer
- Help young people to represent their views at meetings
- Help young people to make a complaint, or sort out their concerns
- Listen to and take seriously what young people say
- Help young people to put forward their views on services for children and young people
What are your Rights?
Children and young people have rights laid down by International and Scottish Law, and by Government Policy. These include:
- The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
- The Children (Scotland) Act 1995
- The Standards in Scotland's Schools etc Act 2000, which gives young people important rights in education
- The Human Rights Act 1998
Confidentiality
The Children's Rights Officer will not pass on anything that children or young people have shared in confidence without the permission of the child or young person, unless they or someone else are at risk of harm.
Each young person will have open access to any records kept about him or her by the Children's Rights Officer.
Contact
Freephone: 0800 917 8275
An answering machine is switched on when the Children's Rights Officer is out, but if you leave a message giving your name and how you can be contacted, the Children's Rights Officer will get in touch with you quickly.
Only the Children's Rights Officer will listen to your message.
Write to:
The Children's Rights Officer
Gordon House
Blackhall Road
Inverurie
AB51 5WB
E-Mail: social.work@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Useful Contacts:
- Who Cares? Scotland - voluntary organisation working with and for children and young people in care.
Young People's Worker Tel: 07712 869 576
- Scottish Commissioner for Children and Young People - promotes and safeguard the rights of children and young people living in Scotland.
Tel: 0800 019 1179
- Legal Helpline Tel: 0800 220 557
- Scottish Child Law Centre (Under 18's) - independent charity working to promote the understanding of children's rights and the law as it affects children across Scotland.
Tel: 0800 328 8970
- ChildLine Scotland - 24-hour telephone service for children and young people.
Tel: 0800 11 11
- Childline for children living away from home (6-10 pm)
Tel: 0800 884 444
- Childline Bullying Line
Tel: 0800 44 1111
- Smokeline
- offers support and encouragement to callers wishing to stop smoking or have recently stopped.
Tel: 0800 84 84 84
- Drugs Action Aberdeen - provides services for drug users, ex users and their families.
Tel: 01224 594 700
- Samaritans - provides confidential emotional support, 24 hours a day for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
Tel: 08457 90 90 90
- Crimestoppers - an independent charity working to stop crime.
Tel: 0800 555 111
