There has been a reduction in face to face Hearings since the start of the year as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. The Hearings System has responded by moving towards a virtual first model for all Hearings.
Since January, a Virtual Hearings Group, led by SCRA and supported by Children’s Hearings Scotland, has been working to make improvements to Virtual Hearings.
SCRA’s Virtual Hearings Team will be using a system called RAVHI (Remote Attendance Virtual Hearings Interface) which will manage everything related to a Virtual Hearing from identifying participants, to issuing joining instructions, providing Panel Members with access to papers and supporting the Hearing on the day.
One of the main aims of the pilot is to improve line and device testing and connection arrangements prior to Virtual Hearings for all participants. It also hopes to improve advice and support to participants in the Hearing to prevent and/or respond to drop out issues.
Testing has now been concluded and implementation for the pilot is now underway. The pilot will run in Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, Edinburgh City, Stirling, Scottish Borders, East Lothian, Mid Lothian, Fife, West Lothian and Glasgow.
An evaluation of the pilot will be carried out via an online survey. More information about this will be available shortly.
As part of our commitment to improve our communications, we have created RAVHI the Virtual Hearings Robot. RAVHI will guide everyone through their Virtual Hearings journey. Wherever you see RAVHI this means that help and support is available from SCRA’s Virtual Hearings Team.
If you would like more information, including access to a self-test, please visit our Virtual Hearings website – Virtual Hearings – SCRA.
