Pamela O`mara

Pamela O'Mara has been a volunteer for the Children's Panel in Scotland for the last 4 years.

The Children's Panel is a legal tribunal and a critical / integral part of the judicial framework in Scotland which provides an alternative route (rather than full court hearings) for the assessment and review of children's cases that require a decision as to the treatment approach for each individual. These cases can be anything from children misbehaving to serious neglect, mistreatment and abuse. Pamela is a volunteer member who works along side a panel of 2 other volunteers from within the community who sit on average once a month. Pamela and the panel members need to decide upon providing the right protection, control, treatment and guidance is given to the child and their family with minimum intervention. The panel are also in place to ensure that Social Services are doing their job properly. The panel provides a more comfortable environment within which to challenge and seek to understand the root cause of the issues that are brought up for review.

Pamela helps to create a safe and relaxed atmosphere for the child and its family to discuss openly the issues and problems - enabling the panel to reach the right decision for the most effective corrective solutions and approach.

Pamela Makes a Difference and is driven in the knowledge that the work that she supports helps to better protect vulnerable children who will be better protected following the hearing.