Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC)
recognises that children have different
experiences in their lives, but that all
children and young people, including those
with additional support needs, have the
right to receive the appropriate level of
support from adults to allow them to grow
up feeling loved, safe and respected and to
realise their full potential.
The GIRFEC approach is designed to be
flexible enough to support all children and
families whatever their need, whenever
they need it. It is about responding in a
meaningful, supportive way, working with
parents and carers wherever possible
(Education Scotland, 2020: 37).
Health and social care principles and standards
We are committed to providing disabled children and young people the best possible quality of care and the Health and Social Care Standardsset out what we should expect when using health, social care or social work services in Scotland. The Standards are for everyone. We are all entitled to the same high quality care and support.They are underpinned by five principles and based on five outcomes.
The Principles are:-
- dignity and respect
- compassion
- be included
- responsive care
- support and wellbeing.
The Standards are:-
- I experience high quality care and support that is right for me.
- I am fully involved in all decisions about my care and support.
- I have confidence in the people who support and care for me.
- I have confidence in the organisation providing my care and support.
- I experience a high quality environment if the organisation provides the premises.
If your child has additional support needs or a disability that is identified at birth or during their early years, your health visitor or anyone working closely with you will contact the Early Years Multi-Agency Team (EYMAT).
This involves education, health and social work services. They will work with you to look what you child needs and co-ordinate the help and services available.
EYMAT can also give you advice on services, benefits and health-related information and look with you at the best options for your child at nursery school and school.
If your child is under three and has additional support needs they will have priority access to a place at nursery and we will provide a home visiting specialist support teacher.
Anyone with an interest in the child can make a referral to EYMAT although it is usually made by health services as they often have the first contact with parents and their children.
South Lanarkshire Psychological Services
The Psychological Service is part of Education Resources within South Lanarkshire Council. The service is made up of psychologists, educational psychologists in training, clerical and administrative staff and a research assistant.
The vision of South Lanarkshire Council Psychological Services is using psychology to empower all South Lanarkshire’s children and young people to thrive.
Our purpose is promoting wellbeing, learning, inclusion and equity for all South Lanarkshire’s children and young people.
We do this through:
- Providing children and young people (aged 0-19) with the support and encouragement they need to achieve their full potential, by working collaboratively with parents, carers, teachers and wider professionals.
- Working at a range of levels across the authority to support inclusion, raise attainment, and promote wellbeing, (individual child and family, school, authority).
- Delivering the 5 core functions (assessment, consultation, intervention, research and training/development).
- Providing advice to South Lanarkshire Education Resources, and other professional colleagues, on how everyone can work effectively together to achieve the best outcomes for every child.
Educational Psychologists use their knowledge of psychology, child development and learning to help children and young people make the most of their lives, particularly in education.
Our work is done in the context of our values which were identified through an exercise in 2022:
- Child centred
- Empathic
- Solution focused
- With a drive to make a difference through relationships
All Educational Psychologists are Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered. The service provides placements for Educational Psychologists in Training, who undertake practice under supervision, and is accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS) for this purpose.
There are offices in three areas, serving our four localities. These provide an educational psychological service to children young people and families, with a key link to all South Lanarkshire education establishments.
The following link provides a fuller description of the breadth of work completed by an educational psychology service:
