What is GIRFEC?
Who is a named person?
A named person is the health visitor or family nurse for a preschool child and a promoted teacher - such as a head teacher, or guidance teacher or other promoted member of staff - for a school age child.
To obtain a list of named person’s in your area, please see below:
East Ayrshire
Health Visiting service: 01563 545730
Education: 01563 555653 or
Email: NamedPersonService@east-ayrshire.gov.uk
The School Office contacts can be accessed here
North Ayrshire
Named person service for Health and Social Care Partnership/Education North Ayrshire Council
Email: namedpersonservice@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
South Ayrshire
Health Visiting Service: clinical_southayrshirechildrenswellbeingconcerns
or by phone 01292 885501
Education: ChildWellbeingConcerns@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
or by phone: 01292 612285
named person duties
The named person duties are integrated into their current role and strengthen the support they currently provide, formalising their role as a central contact for children, young people, parent(s)/carer(s) and the ‘Team with the Family’ supporting them. All children and young people are entitled to a named person and they can decline the support offered by the named Person at any time.
The named person will help families and the services that support them to work in partnership. A named person will be a single point of contact available to children, young people and parent(s)/carer(s) by law to make getting help and advice more straightforward and joined up. There is no obligation to take up the offer of advice or support. Named persons have no new legal powers to compel children, young people and parent(s)/carer(s) to accept advice, support or help.
The named person will promote, support and safeguard a child/young person’s wellbeing.
These functions are:
- To offer information, advice or direct support; or help to access a service or support; or to raise a matter with other services or authorities.
- A named person will be available to listen, advise and help a child or young person and their parent(s)/carer(s), provide direct support or help them access other services. For example, a health visitor may request assistance from a speech and language therapist, or a guidance teacher may signpost parents to local bereavement counselling service.
- They will also be a point of contact for other services if they have any concerns about a child/young person’s wellbeing needs.