Article 13 Persons who may attend children’s hearings at chairman’s discretion

Without prejudice to the right of a child and of a relevant person under rule 11 above to be accompanied at a children’s hearing by a representative, and subject to subsections (1) to (3) of section 43 of the Act (provisions as to privacy of children’s hearings), the persons whose presence at the children’s hearing may be permitted by the chairman under the said subsection (1) shall be–

(a)

the chairman and members of the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee for the local authority area of the children’s hearing and the clerk to the Children’s Panel Advisory Committee of the local authority;

(b)

any members or possible members of children’s panels whose attendance is required at children’s hearings for the purpose of their training as members of children’s hearings, and their instructors;

(c)

any student engaged in formal education or training in social work or any person engaged in research relating to children who may be in need of compulsory measures of supervision; and

(d)

any other person whose presence at the hearing may in the opinion of the chairman be justified by special circumstances.