GIRFEC in Falkirk
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is the National approach in Scotland designed to improve outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help, at the right time, from the right people. The national practice model (below) is at the heart of GIRFEC and our Falkirk Child’s Plan. The Child’s Plan should be used by all practitioners in children’s and adults services to identify strengths and needs and then what supports are required to improve outcomes for children.
The GIRFEC approach embeds children’s rights, ensures that children and their families get earlier intervention when a wellbeing need is identified, are listened to and can work in partnership with services to get help when they need it.
We want to prevent concerns becoming risks and ensure children are loved safe and can remain at home with their families whenever possible as detailed in The Promise from the Independent Care Review in 2019.
What’s new with GIRFEC in Falkirk?
GIRFEC GUIDANCE
Forth Valley GIRFEC Refresh Guidance (March 2025)
Forth Valley GIRFEC Refresh
Forth Valley GIRFEC Group – GIRFEC Refresh Video
Learning and Development (Falkirk)
NEW INTEGRATED LEAD PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT AND PLAN
In Falkirk we rolled out our new integrated lead professional assessment and plan on 1st April 2022. This replaced most of the existing IAF paperwork. The tool was developed in consultation with staff and partners and has been tested by social workers before we reached this version. Experienced social workers who have tested the tool have supporting the roll out by providing discussion and support sessions in team meetings across the social work service.
The tool aims to strengthen the quality of assessments of risk and need, encourages more analysis and evidence based practice and puts children, young people and families at the centre of assessments and decision making.
We have also incorporated sections for brothers and sisters’ views and family time contact.
Falkirk Integrated Children’s Services Plan 2023-26
Children’s Rights Report 2020-23
GIRFEC Guidance
GIRFEC in Forth Valley – Guidance (Refreshed March 2025)
Team Around the Child (TAC) Guidance & Information Leaflets
Team Around the Child (TAC) Meeting Information for Parents & Carers (Leaflet)
Team Around the Child (TAC) Meeting Information for Younger Child (Leaflet)
Team Around the Child (TAC) Meeting Information for Young Person (Leaflet)
– Arabic Translation
– Kurdish (Central) Translation
– Kurdish (Northern) Translation
– Pashto Translation
– Ukrainian Translation
– Vietnamese Translation
GIRFEC Paperwork templates
Forth Valley Notification of Concern Form
Forth Valley Wellbeing Assessment Form
GIRFEC Lead Professional Assessment and Plan
CSRG referral guidance
CARE Group Referral Guidance
CARE Group request – Early Identification and Intervention Support
Early Identification and Intervention Support guidance
Educational Psychology Referral Guidance
Falkirk Educational Psychology Service
Working in Partnership to Improve Outcomes for Children in Falkirk
Family Support Referral Guidance
GIRFEC Pathway
The GIRFEC pathway is a one page process map that illustrates Falkirk’s GIRFEC Pathway and which parts of the Child’s Plan assessment, planning, action and review for children, should be used when. The pathway is being designed of online use as well as being printed.
