Welcome to the November 2025 edition of the Bairns’ Hoose newsletter! This issue covers:
- September 2025 meeting of the National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group
- International collaboration helps to shape Scotland’s Bairns’ Hoose development – Barnahus Conference in Tallinn, Estonia
- A visit to Barnahus Lithuania
- Updates from the Scottish Government Bairns’ Hoose Unit, including new resources:
Refreshed Bairns’ Hoose – Scottish Barnahus: vision, principles and approach
Refreshed Bairns’ Hoose – Pathfinder Phase: Delivery Plan 2025-2027
Justice Myths – Collaborative Learning Event Write-Up
Support for Child Victims and Witnesses Giving Evidence In Criminal Cases
Getting Ready for the next phase of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019
Update from the analysis workstream
- Knowledge Exchange Webinars
- New resource: Supporting Scotland’s Children: Core Knowledge and Values
September 2025 meeting of the National Bairns’Hoose Implementation Group
The National Bairns’ Hoose Implementation Group (NBHIG) held its fourth meeting on 23 September 2025 bringing together key stakeholders from across Scotland.
The meeting included presentations from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire partnerships, who reflected on the progress, challenges and next steps to implement Bairns’ Hoose in their areas. Both partnerships highlighted the importance of including the voice of children and young people in the development of their Bairns’ Hoose. Aberdeen City showcased their Bairns’ Hoose logo which was created in collaboration with children and young people.
Aberdeenshire spoke of the strong multi-agency approach to designing their service, highlighting that the work is routed in voice and participation. They discussed the geographical challenges of creating a Bairns’ Hoose that served their rural communities and the steps they are taking to deliver this. Rachel Hewitt, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, then shared an update on key findings from engagement with partners on development of the Blueprint.
International collaboration helps to Shape Scotland’s Bairns’ Hoose Development – Barnahus Conference, Tallinn, Estonia
In June 2025, colleagues from the Bairns’ Hoose Unit attended the European Barnahus Network Conference in Tallinn, Estonia. The event brought together Barnahus practitioners, policymakers and experts from across Europe and beyond, offering valuable opportunities to build partnerships, exchange learning, and ensure that Scotland’s national Bairns’ Hoose model continues to be informed by international best practice.
On the first day, discussions focused on how children’s voices can be meaningfully embedded in service evaluation and improvement, and how multidisciplinary teams can collaborate to deliver trauma informed, evidence based interviews. These themes closely align and reflect areas already being developed and tested in Bairns’ Hoose partnerships across Scotland.
Further sessions explored the interface between child protection and justice systems, highlighting the importance of clear protocols and shared understanding across agencies. There was also a focus on improving responses to underserved groups, with reflections on therapeutic support, assessment, and coordinated case planning. These discussions are particularly relevant as Scotland continues to shape inclusive and responsive approaches within Bairns’ Hoose.
On the second day, attention turned to health integration and emerging areas of need. Colleagues engaged in discussions on the role of medical and functional assessments in identifying not only signs of abuse, but also broader physical and psychological symptoms that may affect recovery and participation. These insights are directly relevant to Scotland’s ongoing work to strengthen health pathways and ensure holistic, child-centred care. The growing impact of online sexual harm was also a key theme, with emphasis on trauma-sensitive responses and improved coordination across services.
A study visit to a local Barnahus site provided an opportunity to observe service delivery in practice and reflect on operational models. The visit contributed to a broader understanding of how Barnahus principles can be applied in different contexts.
The forum offered timely learning that will support Scotland’s ongoing Pathfinder phase, where Bairns’ Hoose Standards are being tested. Continued international engagement is helping to shape a national model that reflects both evidence and experience, ahead of incremental rollout beginning in 2027.
A visit to Barnahus Lithuania
In October 2025, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect (ISPCAN) held its annual Congress in Vilnius, Lithuania. Our colleague, Frances Gunn, from the Bairns’ Hoose Unit, was privileged to participate in the Congress and to visit the local Barnahus. Here we have her reflections on the trip:
Lithuania opened its Barnahus in June 2016 and currently one Barnahus serves the population of Lithuania (approximately 2.8 million). The Barnahus is situated in the outskirts of Vilnius, which is both the capital of Lithuania and its largest city. The Barnahus is set within woodland in an estate which affords it privacy but also means the location is both a visually attractive and soothing environment.
As part of the visit, Airida Andrule, the Chief Specialist at the State Child Rights, Protection and Adoption service gave a presentation highlighting the processes followed in Lithuania when a report is made of a possible violation of a child’s rights (suspected abuse). It was reassuring to understand processes and timescales around responses and how these lead into referral to the Barnahus. She also gave an overview of the staff supporting the Barnahus: these include a psychologist and a social worker alongside administrative and management staff. There is also an agreement with the Lithuanian State Forensic Medical Service, who utilise the facilities within the Barnahus to carry out forensic medical examinations (FME) when required. The target group of the Barnahus is all children in Lithuania who are victims or suspected victims of sexual violence including trafficking where sexual violence is involved.
Alongside well-established interview processes to support the justice system, the Lithuanian Barnahus model has a strong focus on psychological assessment of children who receive support from the Barnahus, to enable robust recommendations for long-term comprehensive support to address the impacts of trauma related to the abuse the child has been subject to. The Barnahus aims to provide holistic support to the families of children in receipt of Barnahus support via referrals to appropriate services following the psychological assessment of the child.
The visit was a wonderful opportunity to view the fabulous premises and learn about the legislation and processes underpinning the Lithuanian Barnahus and yielded much reflection in terms of learning specific to the Scottish Bairns’ Hoose context as we continue through our Pathfinder phase.
Update from the Scottish Government Bairns’ Hoose Unit
New resources
We are pleased to share that we have updated both the Bairns’ Hoose Vision and the Pathfinder Phase Delivery Plan to reflect new insights and feedback from partners across justice, health, child protection and the third sector.
The revised Bairns’ Hoose – Scottish Barnahus: vision, principles and approach, published on 6 October 2025, has been refreshed in close partnership with stakeholders and has been updated to respond to feedback, reflecting learning from the Pathfinder phase of the Bairns’ Hoose programme. Key updates focus on clarifying scope of access to Bairns’ Hoose and the decision-making pathways for referring children, and strengthening alignment with national frameworks including Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) and Scotland’s incorporation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Complementing this, the refreshed Bairns’ Hoose – pathfinder phase: delivery plan 2025 to 2027, published in September 2025, outlines how we will continue to work with partners to develop the Bairns’ Hoose model during the Pathfinder phase. It sets out the next steps for implementation and reinforces our commitment to continuous improvement and collaborative delivery.
To support learning, we’ve added two new papers to our resources page:
Justice Myths – Collaborative Learning Event Write-Up For SCRA
This paper shares insights from our April 2025 learning event, where partners came together to challenge common misconceptions about how children engage with the justice system. It clarifies key processes such as witness citation and the use of Evidence by Commissioner hearings.
Support for Child Victims and Witnesses Giving Evidence In Criminal Cases
This paper outlines the range of support measures available to children who may be required to give evidence, including Joint Investigative Interviews, as well as special measures such as live links, screens, and pre-recorded evidence. It also provides information on recent key reforms to the justice system such as those introduced through the Victims, Witnesses and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill and the development of the Victim Passport.
The measures set out in the paper reflect our shared ambition to reduce the need for children to give evidence in court and to ensure that, when required, they are fully supported throughout the process. The information provided is designed to support partnerships as they continue working towards and developing Bairns’ Hoose.
Getting Ready for the next phase of the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019
The Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced a presumption that children and vulnerable adult witnesses in the most serious cases should be able to have their evidence pre-recorded ahead of a trial, instead of having to testify live in court. The legislation is being rolled out in stages in order to avoid overwhelming the justice system and to prioritise the youngest witnesses in the most serious cases.
The next phase of the rollout of the Act will extend the presumption in favour of pre-recorded evidence to child witnesses aged under 16 in the most serious sheriff and jury cases. This phase is due to be commenced by April 2026.
The Implementation Plan sets out the schedule for the next and subsequent phases of the delivery of the Act. A cross-sectoral Implementation Group has been established to take forward the actions required as the rollout progresses.
Further updates on the rollout of the presumption will be provided through this newsletter, but if you have any questions in the meantime please contact Bairnshoose@gov.scot
Analysis workstream update
The multi-method research led by Ipsos has completed its fieldwork phase and contractors are currently analysing and synthesising evidence from all sources. This includes qualitative data gathered through interviews and focus groups with key professionals across six partnerships, as well as evidence from StART 2 submissions and funding reports. The findings will be compiled into a final research report, which will inform the development of the Bairns’ Hoose Blueprint (National Guidance).
Ipsos will present emerging findings from the StART 2 submissions in a webinar on 5 February 2026. The final report is scheduled for publication in May 2026, following the Scottish elections, with a follow-up webinar on key findings planned for 21 May 2026.
On the Bairns’ Hoose indicator project, thank you to everyone who provided feedback – your input is greatly appreciated and will be carefully considered. We are currently reviewing the indicators in light of this feedback and will engage separately with partnerships and key stakeholders to sense-check options and further understand what currently is, or could be, collected. We intend the updated indicators’ list to be more streamlined and clearer on data sources and hope to share this with the working group in early 2026. Partnerships are encouraged to consider the list in any work around updating their local data collection mechanisms. For further questions, please contact Bairnshoose@gov.scot
Knowledge Exchange Programme update
The Bairns’ Hoose Knowledge Exchange Programme has offered valuable learning experiences throughout 2025. In the new phase of sessions running from October 2025 to March 2026 the series will bring together learning, research and best practice from partnerships in Scotland. Researchers and practitioners reflect on their Bairns’ Hoose journey and present their learning and examples of good practice.
On 30 October we heard from Aberdeen City on the wealth of work ongoing across the Bairns’ Hoose Programme covering justice, health, recovery services and child protection. Reflections were shared on the importance of setting and environment and case studies were shared to show progress in specific areas.
Join us on 11 November for a Spotlight Session on the Fife Partnership where they will discuss upholding the rights and voice of the child in the Bairns’ Hoose. You can sign up using the link below. Sign up to the Knowledge Exchange Programme session on 11 November 2025
Look out for more information on upcoming events including:
- Spotlight Session: Aberdeenshire Pathfinder Partnership on 25 November 2025
- Webinar: SPACE and its impact on children and young people and the workforce with Edinburgh University on 2 December
- Spotlight Session: Forth Valley Bairns’ Hoose Development Partnership on 9 December
- Bairns’ Hoose Collaborative Learning Event, Paisley Town Hall, 10 March 2026
New resource: Supporting Scotland’s Children: Core Knowledge and Values
On Thursday 9 October, the Supporting Scotland’s Children: Core Knowledge and Values replaced the Common Core of Skills, Knowledge & Understanding and Values for the “Children’s Workforce” in Scotland. This new online resource sets out the essential knowledge and values that everyone working or volunteering with babies, children, young people and families should share, including children’s rights, wellbeing, safeguarding and partnership working.
Hosted by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) the hope is that Supporting Scotland’s Children will be used widely across services, from education and health to social work and the third sector.
The resource has been refreshed to reflect current policy priorities including Getting It Right for Every Child, The Promise, and UNCRC incorporation, and is intended as a practical tool for induction, training, and ongoing learning across all sectors. This resource will be reviewed on a 6-monthly basis to reflect any changes in policy.