Welcome to the June 2025 edition of the Bairns’ Hoose newsletter!
In this issue, we shall be covering:
- May 2025 meeting of the National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group
- April 2025 Collaborative Learning Event in Perth
- Trauma-Informed Interviewing: Scottish Child Interview Model evaluation published
- Knowledge Exchange programme update
- New resources: Child Forensic Medical Examination videos now available
- International learning helps to shape Scotland’s approach to Bairns’ Hoose
- Introducing Bairns’ Hoose Test of Change Projects
- One Year of Progress: Reflections from Bairns’ Hoose StART1
May 2025 meeting of the National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group
The National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group (NBHIG) held its third meeting in Edinburgh on 28 May 2025, bringing together key stakeholders from across Scotland. The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes MSP, reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to Bairns’ Hoose as a priority in the Programme for Government 2025-26, supported by up to £10.5 million of investment for the coming year.
The meeting featured presentations from two partnerships showcasing their progress. The Sycamore Partnership highlighted their transformation of a former secure location into a child-friendly centre with proper facilities, while acknowledging challenges in cross-organisational coordination. The Highland Partnership demonstrated how they have adapted to geographical challenges by developing a hub and spoke model that prevents children from having to travel excessive distances, with specific innovations to address the unique needs of remote, rural and island communities.
Shawnna von Blixen-Finecke from the Barnahus Network presented on the European Quality Standards and its toolkits, noting the close relation and relevance of these to Scotland’s Bairns’ Hoose Standards. William Griffiths provided programme updates, including plans for engagement with key partners to plan the blueprint development process. Jillian Ingram shared progress on the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM), with an evaluation by the Children and Young People Centre for Justice published as of 4 June 2025.
The meeting closed with Hannah Grubb presenting Fife’s Children and Young People Participation and Engagement Framework, showcasing how young people had meaningfully contributed to development processes, including creating support worker roles and ensuring accessible language in materials. The next Implementation Group meeting is scheduled for 23 September 2025.
April 2025 Collaborative Learning Event in Perth
The recent Bairns’ Hoose Collaborative Learning Event in Perth brought together approximately 80 participants from across Scotland to share progress and learning of testing the Bairns’ Hoose Standards taking place across Scotland. Held on April 29, 2025, this milestone gathering included representatives from six Pathfinder partnerships, four Affiliate partnerships, and other areas supported through the Development Fund.
The Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise, Natalie Don-Innes MSP, confirmed up to £10.5 million of further investment for 2025-26, emphasising that Bairns’ Hoose creates spaces “where justice does not mean more trauma, where healing begins the moment they walk through our doors, and where their voices shape not only their own futures but the future of Scotland itself.”
The event focused on two critical aspects of the Barnahus model: justice and Bairns’ Hoose, and health and Bairns’ Hoose. The morning featured insightful discussions about testing live court links in North Strathclyde and facilitated discussions with justice partners, while the afternoon sessions highlighted health integration with presentations from The Lighthouse in London, followed by an expert panel addressing sustainable models for health services within different local contexts.
Read the full article about the Bairns’ Hoose Collaborative Learning Event
Watch Building Scotland’s Bairns’ Hoose: Perspectives from Perth Learning Event April 2025
Trauma-Informed Interviewing: Scottish Child Interview Model evaluation published
Supported by Scottish Government funding, the Children and Young People Centre for Justice (CYCJ) published, on 4 June 2025, its evaluation of the Scottish Child Interview Model for Joint Investigative Interviewing: Scottish Child Interview Model for Joint Investigative Interviewing: an evaluation – Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice
The Scottish Child Interview Model, known as ‘SCIM’, is a five-component model of practice for the Joint Investigative Interviewing of children, which is trauma-informed and aims to minimise the risk of further traumatisation, while seeking to achieve best evidence through improved planning and interviewing techniques. The model was developed by police and social work to ensure that children’s statements are taken in a way that minimises harm and maximises the quality of the information obtained for use in child protection and justice processes. The model is derived from research on best practice for forensic interviewing and is a carefully designed approach that promotes the gathering of accurate and reliable information from children in a manner that respects their rights and minimises trauma.
CYCJ was asked to evaluate how the Scottish Child Interview Model has been implemented across nine partnership areas within Scotland: Edinburgh, North Strathclyde, Fife, Lanarkshire, Lothian and Borders, Ayrshire, Northeast, Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow. The evaluation recognises the value of the Scottish Child Interview Model and also provides recommendations for how it can be strengthened.
Knowledge Exchange programme update
The Bairns’ Hoose Knowledge Exchange programme continues to provide valuable learning opportunities throughout 2025:
Recent Events (April to June)
April:
- “Supporting staff to work differently” with Karen Hangartner from the National Child Advocacy Center (USA)
- “Child protection and healthcare landscape in Iceland” presented by Ólöf Ásta Farestveit (National Agency for Children and Families, Iceland)
May:
- “Insights Session 8: Role of the Bairns’ Hoose coordinator”
June:
- “Insights Session 9: Health roles in the Bairns’ Hoose team” presented by Kirsty Pate, Scottish Government
- “Implementing trauma-informed and responsive change” with Pauline Cochrane, West Lothian Council
The Bairns’ Hoose Knowledge Exchange January to June 2025 programme has now ended. The aim of the Knowledge Exchange is to continuously adapt and flex to the changing context as Scotland progresses through the Bairns’ Hoose journey. As we plan ahead to the next programme, we would love to hear your thoughts on the programme, its structure and what you would like for the next programme.
Please fill in our short survey.
New resources: Child Forensic Medical Examination videos now available
The Bairns’ Hoose website has added two valuable new resources developed by the Sexual Assault Response Co-ordination Service (SARCS) Network to support children and young people who may need to undergo a child forensic medical examination (CFME) following disclosure of sexual abuse.
These informative videos aim to reduce anxiety by explaining the examination process in age-appropriate language. They carefully guide viewers through what to expect during a CFME, including who will be present, the purpose of the examination and, most importantly, emphasising that children and young people remain in control throughout the process with the right to ask questions or stop at any time.
The videos support the Healthcare Improvement Scotland Standards and the Clinical pathway for healthcare professionals working with children and young people who may have experienced child sexual abuse.
Healthcare professionals, social workers, police officers and other practitioners working with children and young people are encouraged to utilise these resources when appropriate. The videos were developed collaboratively with input from Scottish Government’s SARCS Policy Unit, Child Protection Unit, Bairns Hoose’, healthcare professionals, Police Scotland, Social Work Scotland, and feedback from children and young people via Barnardo’s Scotland.
Access these resources below:
International learning helps to shape Scotland’s approach to Bairns’ Hoose
As Scotland continues through the Pathfinder phase of the Bairns’ Hoose programme, recent international visits have brought valuable insight from partners in both London and Oslo. These visits have reinforced the importance of learning from Barnahus models established elsewhere, which will be crucial to informing the development of the Bairns’ Hoose blueprint.
Bairns’ Hoose Unit colleagues recently attended the European Barnahus Network Conference in Tallinn, Estonia. This event provided further opportunities to build partnerships, share learning, and ensure that Scotland’s Bairns’ Hoose continues to be informed by the very best of international experience. The next newsletter will provide an update.
Introducing Bairns’ Hoose Test of Change projects
We are pleased to share a summary of the innovative Test of Change projects being taken forward by Bairns’ Hoose partnerships across Scotland. These projects are supported through the Test of Change element of the Bairns’ Hoose Fund, as part of this year’s Scottish Government investment of up to £10.5 million to support the continued development and delivery of Bairns’ Hoose.
Each project is grounded in the Bairns’ Hoose Standards and takes a creative, collaborative approach, contributing to the wider learning during the Pathfinder phase.
Ten partnerships are delivering Test of Change projects in 2025–26. Their work explores a range of themes including speech and language therapy, workforce support, justice, healthcare coordination, education, digital systems, and meaningful engagement with children and young people.
One Year of Progress: Reflections from Bairns’ Hoose StART1
We are delighted to present this first-year summary report, One Year of Progress, which highlights key insights from across five Pathfinder partnerships who completed the first round of the Bairns’ Hoose Standards Self-Assessment and Readiness Tool (StART 1).
The tool is designed to help Pathfinders assess their current progress in implementing the Bairns’ Hoose Standards and to build a national picture of readiness. StART supports Pathfinders in identifying strengths, challenges, and areas where further support is needed. The findings will guide targeted improvement efforts and inform national planning.
The analysis of StART 1 submissions was completed by Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) and shared widely through our Insight series and Collaborative Learning events during 2024 and 2025.
All Pathfinder partnerships are now invited to complete StART 2 by August 2025, continuing our shared journey toward delivering Bairns’ Hoose across Scotland.