Children’s Health Scotland works to ensure every child in Scotland has the right to the best possible health and understands their health rights. We provide support programmes for children with health conditions, as well as for Kinship and Foster Carers. We are the only charity in Scotland that focuses on the healthcare needs and rights of children with health conditions, and we work with children, families, carers, teachers, and health professionals to help everyone understand how to support children’s health and wellbeing
Children are not small adults. They differ from adults socially, mentally, and physically, and adult health policies and services do not work for children. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), Article 24, children have the right to the best possible health. The European Association For Children In Hospital And Healthcare (EACH) Charter also states that children have the right to care that recognises their age and individual needs, to be listened to, to receive clear information, and to feel safe and supported when using services that support their health. Scotland’s GIRFEC approach underpins this work by ensuring every child gets the right support at the right time, centred around their wellbeing needs.

This survey gives children across Scotland the chance to share their experiences so professionals can better respect and uphold their rights.

In this survey, you choose a number from 1 to 5 to show how much you agree.
1 means ‘I don’t agree at all’ and 5 means ‘I totally agree!’” and the numbers in between are in the middle. Choose the number that fits your feeling best.

(In this survey, as in the UNCRC, the word ‘children’ is used to refer to babies, children, and young people below the age of 18.)

Please note, in this survey, the word ‘health’ is used to refer to the three parts of health – physical, mental and social.
If you would like to know more about our privacy notice, you can find it at: https://www.childrenshealthscotland.org/privacy/

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* 1. What is your health board?

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* 2. What is your role?

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* 3. How confident are you in your understanding of children’s health rights? (UNCRC, EACH Charter, GIRFEC, consent, confidentiality, participation)

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* 4. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 5. Are you aware that, under Scotland’s UNCRC incorporation, health professionals are duty bearers with legal responsibilities to uphold children’s rights?
1 means unaware and 5 means completely aware.

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* 6. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 7. Do you feel you have the resources you need to explain children’s health rights to children and families?

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* 8. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 9. In your experience, how often are children meaningfully involved in decisions about their health during appointments?

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* 10. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 11. Do you feel able to provide equitable care for disabled children or those with ASN?
1 being not able and 5 being completely able.

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* 12. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 13. Would you benefit from further training in children’s health rights, participation, trauma-informed practice, or communicating rights to families?

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* 14. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 15. If yes, what types of training would be most helpful?

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* 16. Are there barriers that make it difficult to uphold children’s health rights in your role?

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* 17. If other, please specify here.

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* 18. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 19. In your role, have you supported foster children with health needs?

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* 20. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 21. In your role, have you supported kinship children with health needs?

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* 22. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 23. Could you share your organisation’s experience in supporting Care Experienced Children, and outline the training and ongoing support your staff receive to ensure their work is rights‑based and trauma‑informed?

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* 24. Have you observed delays or challenges in accessing mental health or neurodevelopmental services for children?

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* 25. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 26. Would you be willing to participate in a national Children’s Health Rights Learning Network for health professionals?

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* 28. Is there anything else you'd like us to know? You can have your say here.

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS - YOUR HELP MAKES A DIFFERENCE
The following questions are entirely optional. You do not need to answer them to complete the survey.

However, if you choose to provide this additional information, it will greatly strengthen our understanding of how health rights are being supported across services in Scotland.

  • Identify trends and gaps in health rights awareness
  • Improve training, resources, and support for health professionals
  • Ensure the voices and experiences of those working within health services inform national health rights development

Please answer any optional questions you feel comfortable responding to. Every contribution—big or small—adds valuable context to this national picture.

TO SUBMIT THIS SURVEY PLEASE GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE FULL SURVEY - IT WILL BE A BIG GREEN BUTTON THAT SAYS SUBMIT

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* 29. How confident are you explaining children’s rights to families?

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* 30. Are you aware of the Young Patients Family Fund (YPFF) and when it applies?

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* 31. If yes, have you recommended the YPFF?

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* 32. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 33. What prevents children from participating effectively in appointments?

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* 34. If other, please specify here.

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* 35. Do you want to tell us more?

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* 36. Have you received rights-based or trauma-informed training in the past 2 years?

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* 37. What resources or support would help you better uphold children’s health rights?

Is there anything else you'd like to say?

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* 38. Please tell us if there is anything else you'd like to say here.

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