GIRFEC Explained

Getting it right for every childWhat is GIRFEC?

GIRFEC is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help at the right time from the right people.  It supports working in partnership with the services that can help.

It puts the rights and wellbeing of children and young people at the heart of the services that support them – such as early years services, schools, and the NHS – to ensure that everyone works together to improve outcomes for a child or young person.

Most children get all the support and help they need from their parent(s), wider family and local community, in partnership with services like health and education. Where extra support is needed, the GIRFEC approach aims to make that support easy to access and seamless, with the child at the centre.

It is for all children and young people because it is impossible to predict if or when they might need extra support.

What does GIRFEC mean for children, young people and parent(s)?

GIRFEC means:
  • You understand what is happening and why.
  • You have been listened to carefully and your wishes have been heard, understood and taken into consideration.
  • You feel confident about the help you are getting.
  • You are appropriately involved in discussions and decisions that affect you.
  • You can rely on appropriate help being available as soon as possible.
  • You experience a more straightforward and co-ordinated response from the people working with you.