The Getting It Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) framework is a key tool in delivering Scotland’s vision for children outlined in The Promise. By providing a structure for early intervention and holistic support, GIRFEC plays a crucial role in achieving the changes called for by the Independent Care Review.
What Does The Promise Aim to Achieve?
The Promise focuses on:
- Ensuring every child grows up loved, safe, and respected.
- Keeping families together whenever it is safe to do so.
- Creating a system where children’s voices are central and their needs are prioritised.
How GIRFEC Helps Deliver These Goals
- Prevention and Early Support: GIRFEC helps identify and address challenges early, reducing the need for children to enter care by providing the right support to families when they need it most.
- Coordinated Services: GIRFEC’s collaborative approach ensures that professionals work together to meet a child’s needs, avoiding gaps or duplication in services.
- Focus on Wellbeing: The SHANARRI indicators—Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, and Included—align perfectly with The Promise’s vision of holistic support.
Case Study: Supporting Families
Under GIRFEC, a struggling family might receive coordinated support, such as access to financial advice, mental health services, and parenting guidance. This approach keeps families together and ensures the child’s wellbeing is prioritised, echoing The Promise’s focus on love and stability.
A Shared Vision
GIRFEC provides the practical framework needed to implement the ideals of The Promise. Together, they are reshaping Scotland’s systems to ensure every child grows up in an environment where they can thrive.
