Getting it right for every child: 20 years of GIRFEC 

Marianne Tyler, Senior Development Officer for our Children and Young People Programme, reflects on 20 years of the ALLIANCE and GIRFEC.

GIRFEC and why it matters:

In Scotland, 21% of children are living in poverty. To put that into perspective, you could fill Hampden Park more than four times with those children. Meanwhile, nearly 300,000 pupils in Scottish schools are now recorded as having an additional support need (ASN). Imagine a classroom of 30 pupils, around 13 of those children would have an ASN. That’s almost half the class. 

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is Scotland’s approach to making sure every child gets the right help at the right time. Established 20 years ago, it recognises that improving children’s lives isn’t the responsibility of one person or service. We all have a part to play, and the services supporting children and families need to work together, with children’s needs, rights and wellbeing at the heart of what they do. 

For me, GIRFEC is about more than responding when something goes wrong. It’s a preventative approach that looks at the whole child, their strengths, their circumstances, the things they enjoy and the challenges they may be facing. It’s about recognising what’s going well, identifying where extra support might help and working together to give every child the best possible start in life. 

How GIRFEC looks from the perspective of a child or young person, and how can it change their experience of getting help and support:

When GIRFEC is working well, a child or young person should feel listened to, valued and involved in decisions that affect them. They should know there is someone they can turn to for information, advice and support, and feel confident that their needs and views will be taken seriously. 

It’s about offering support early, before a situation reaches crisis point, and putting the right things in place to help a young person thrive. Sometimes that might mean a single person offering a bit of advice or reassurance or it might involve a whole team of professionals working together around the child. 

Crucially, GIRFEC is not a one size fits all approach. Every child is different, and support should reflect their individual needs, circumstances and what’s happening in their world. 

I think one of the most important things is that children and families shouldn’t have to keep retelling their story to different professionals who are involved in their lives. Instead, those professionals should communicate and work together, so the child and their family feel supported rather than having to navigate a complicated system themselves. 

The difference it makes when the professionals around a child work together, listen to them, and understand what matters to them:

We know that staff and services are under increasing pressure, which makes it even more important that we work together effectively. GIRFEC encourages us to look beyond individual services and consider the bigger picture. What is happening in a child’s life, what matters to them, what their strengths are and what would make a positive difference. 

When we get this right, we can offer support earlier, rather than waiting until difficulties become more complex. By listening to children and young people and involving them in decisions, professionals can build a clearer understanding of what they need and what they want to achieve. 

It’s about bringing people together, sharing knowledge and making sure the support around a child works towards the same goals. Sometimes, the difference might come from a child’s plan involving several services. Other times, it could be a much smaller action by one person who takes the time to listen, understand and help. 

We can sometimes underestimate the impact of those smaller actions, but they can make a real difference to a child’s experience and future. GIRFEC is about recognising that everyone has a role to play, and that when we work together, we have a better chance of helping children and young people reach their full potential. 

How the ALLIANCE supports GIRFEC, and what our work brings to the approach that can help make a difference to children, young people and families:

Through our Children and Young People Programme, the ALLIANCE works to increase understanding of GIRFEC and support its implementation across Scotland. One of the main ways we do this is through training for professionals, creating space to explore what GIRFEC means in practice, share good examples and reflect on the challenges that can get in the way. 

A key message we want to get across is that GIRFEC is everyone’s responsibility. You don’t have to work directly with children and young people to make a difference. Whatever your role, there may be opportunities to offer support, share information appropriately, help a family access the right service or make sure a child’s voice is heard. 

Our training encourages professionals to think about their own role and the difference their actions can make. Sometimes, the smallest step towards supporting a child or family can have a lasting impact. 

We also use our engagement with professionals and our wider membership to identify good practice, share learning and understand where more support is needed. This helps us highlight both the progress being made and the barriers that remain, and bring these experiences into conversations with Scottish Government to help influence policy and practice. 

Twenty years on, there is still work to do. We continue to see gaps between GIRFEC’s principles and how they are experienced in practice, and we know that children and families don’t always get the support they need when they need it. For me, recognising those challenges is an important part of moving forward. 

Celebrating 20 years of the ALLIANCE and GIRFEC is an opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved, learn from what isn’t working and renew our commitment to making sure every child gets the support they deserve. 

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