Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

What Scottish Children's Reporter Administration does

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) is a Non-Departmental Public Body of the Scottish Government, established under the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011 to administer the Children's Hearings System across Scotland. It receives and investigates referrals about children from agencies including the police, schools and social services, decides whether a Children's Hearing is required, arranges hearings, and maintains the official statistics for the system. SCRA serves children and young people referred to a Reporter, parents and carers, professionals (social workers, teachers, solicitors, advocacy workers), and journalists, providing free statutory services regardless of ability to pay.

SCRA's core technology stack centres on its internal case management system, CSAS (Children's Reporter Administration System), which holds protected characteristics and case information. Public-facing digital products include an Online Statistical Dashboard (interactive, annually updated), a Virtual Hearings Platform built on Microsoft Teams with Virtual Support Assistants, the Hearing About Me online form enabling children to submit views pre-hearing, a feedback system, and a child-friendly complaints handling workflow. Accessibility is delivered through ReciteMe (text-to-speech, dyslexia support, 100+ language translation) and the website is tested against WCAG 2.1 AA under the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018.

SCRA operates a single-country, domestic-only model via 38 local offices across Scotland (headquarters in Stirling), with no commercial pricing structure; all services are statutory and free at point of use. Revenue is grant-in-aid from the Scottish Government, with no disclosed commercial streams, subsidiaries, M&A activity, or external funding rounds. The organisation is governed by a Board appointed by Scottish Ministers and holds accreditations including the Equality Act 2010 duties, the LGBT Youth Scotland Charter, Carer Positive, Disability Confident, Living Wage, and TIDE Gold Charter.

Name

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

Legal name

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

Website

https://scra.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Stirling

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices35 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SCRA is a national statutory body that receives and investigates referrals about children and young people in Scotland, arranges Children's Hearings, and ensures participants can engage with the hearings process. It provides a network of 38 local offices, virtual hearings via Microsoft Teams, online forms (Hearing About Me), feedback and complaints systems, accessible educational resources, and official statistics on the Children's Hearings System, all delivered free of charge under the Children's Hearings (Scotland) Act 2011.

Product overview

SCRA operates a unified service delivery model centered on the Children's Hearings System, combining online digital services with local office-based support across Scotland. The core digital offerings include an Online Statistical Dashboard for official statistics, a Virtual Hearings Platform (using Microsoft Teams) for remote participation in hearings, and online forms including the Hearing About Me form for children to share their views. Supporting services include child-friendly complaints handling, feedback systems, and comprehensive resource libraries (animations, films, leaflets) for children, young people, parents, and professionals. Internal operations are supported by the CSAS case management system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Online Statistical Dashboard Interactive dashboard providing official statistics about children and young people involved in the Children's Hearings System; users can filter by area, measure, and view data at national and local authority levels. For public, professionals, and journalists.
• Virtual Hearings Platform Remote hearing platform enabling Children's Hearings to be conducted via Microsoft Teams, allowing Panel Members, Reporters, children, young people, parents/carers, and other parties to participate virtually with joining instructions issued two days in advance.
• Hearing About Me Online Form Online form allowing children and young people to share their views with the Children's Hearing before the hearing takes place, covering areas including learning, living situation, feelings, family life, future, needs, and good news.
• Feedback System Online feedback system allowing children, young people, parents/carers, and professionals to submit comments about SCRA and the services they provide.
• Complaints Handling System Child-friendly complaints handling system with separate forms for children, young people, and parents/carers, including top tips, review processes, and BSL video support.
• Portal for Children and Families New digital service portal announced in July 2026 for children and families involved in the Children's Hearings System, intended to provide a unified online service.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Our Hearings, Our Voice (OHOV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn independent board of children and young people aimed at improving the Children's Hearings System. SCRA works with OHOV to incorporate the voices of Hearings-experienced young people in system improvements and policy development.
• Hearings AdvocacycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvocacy service providing information and support for children and young people attending Hearings. SCRA directs families to this service and collaborates to ensure children have representation.
• Stand Up For SiblingscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland-wide partnership aimed at improving and changing legislation, policy and practice related to siblings in the care system.
• My Corporate ParentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline resource keeping children, young people and partners informed about what SCRA and the Children's Hearings System are doing to meet Corporate Parenting commitments.
• NDPB Equality GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Scottish NDPBs sharing information and best practice on equalities across the public sector to help meet requirements of equality legislation.
• Justice Board Equality and Diversity sub-groupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJustice sector subgroup focusing on equality and diversity issues within the justice system.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Audit Scotland: Audit Scotland is a NDPB that scrutinises Scottish public bodies including SCRA. It is comparable as a fellow Scottish NDPB operating under similar governance, funding, and accountability structures.
• NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): NSPCC is the UK's leading children's charity focused on child protection, often originating referrals into Children's Hearings. It is comparable as a thematic peer operating in the same child welfare ecosystem but as a third-sector rather than statutory body.

Direct peers

• Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass): Cafcass is a non-departmental public body in England that advises the family courts on the welfare of children, including safeguarding and participation in proceedings. It is the closest direct functional analogue to SCRA, mirroring its role as a quasi-judicial public body supporting children's hearings/court processes.
• Tusla - Child and Family Agency: Tusla is Ireland's state agency dedicated to child welfare and family services, with statutory responsibilities for child protection, alternative care, and family support. It is comparable to SCRA as a national, statutory body delivering child-welfare functions on behalf of government.
• Children's Hearings Scotland: Children's Hearings Scotland is the separate NDPB responsible for recruiting, training, and supporting the volunteer Panel Members who sit on Children's Hearings. It is a tightly coupled peer within the same Children's Hearings System that SCRA administers.

Broad incumbents

• Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service: SCTS is a NDPB that supports Scotland's courts and tribunals, including the Sheriff Courts where Children's Hearings referrals can be appealed. It is a broader justice-system incumbent that shares operational, technological, and statutory overlap with SCRA's quasi-judicial function.

Regional players

• Care Inspectorate: The Care Inspectorate is Scotland's scrutiny and improvement body for care services, including services for children. It is comparable to SCRA as a NDPB operating within Scotland's child welfare ecosystem, though with a regulatory rather than administrative-hearings remit.
• Children 1st: Children 1st is a Scottish children's charity that supports families and delivers services referenced within SCRA's hearings pathway. It is a regional thematic peer delivering related child welfare support services in Scotland.
• Social Work Scotland: Social Work Scotland is the national professional body for social work in Scotland, working closely with SCRA on referrals and the Children's Hearings System. It is comparable as a Scottish public-sector actor within the same child welfare policy space.
• Scottish Children's Reporter Administration - equivalent in Wales (no direct body): Wales administers child welfare through local authority family proceedings rather than a dedicated hearings body; Welsh Government's children and families division is the closest regional analogue and is comparable to SCRA in mandate though delivered through a different legal framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCPKQBwWwLk4Drp9y2wwNTsw
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100064597573776
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scottish-children's-reporter-administration
• Instagraminstagram.com/scotchildreporter
• Xx.com/ChildReporter

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Scottish Children's Reporter Administration