What is it?
Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) is the national policy framework aimed at supporting the wellbeing of children and young people. The framework embeds the articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into practice and promotes a rights-based approach.
How do we do it?
GIRFEC is designed around four key principles:
A child-focused approach: We’ll put the young person and their family at the centre of all decision-making.
Understanding wellbeing: We’ll look at the child’s wellbeing as a whole to provide appropriate, effective support at the right time.
A preventative approach: We’ll identify needs early so they don’t grow into problems.
A joined-up approach: We’ll work together to consider what help a child requires. We’ll involve only the services needed to minimise unnecessary interruption in family life.
What does this look like in practice?
The Fife framework below demonstrates the continuum of support that allows us to respond flexibly and proportionately depending on needs and risks.
UNIVERSAL: Available to all children and young people
ADDITIONAL: Where additional support beyond universal approaches are required for a child to be successful.
INTENSIVE: To respond to a high level of need or risk. At the intensive level there is often multi-agency engagement.
