A Bairns' Hoose is based on the Icelandic Barnahus ("children's house") model and brings justice, health, social work, and recovery services together under one roof using a "four-room" approach.

Its purpose is to provide coordinated, child-centred support for children and young people who have experienced abuse, witnessed violence, or - if under the age of criminal responsibility (currently 12) - have caused serious harm to others.

A core aim of the model is to minimise the number of times a child has to tell their story, ensuring they receive consistent, trauma-informed care throughout.

"All children in Scotland who have been victims or witnesses to abuse or violence, as well as children under the age of criminal responsibility whose behaviour has caused significant harm or abuse will have access, within one setting, to trauma-informed recovery, support and justice."

In 2022, Aberdeenshire's CPC agreed to take forward the development of an Aberdeenshire Bairns' Hoose through a collaborative, multi-agency approach. In November 2023, Aberdeenshire was confirmed as one of six successful Scottish Government Bairns' Hoose Pathfinder areas. The Pathfinder phase will run until 2027.

Pathfinder status provides access to Scottish Government funding to help redevelop a suitable building to deliver the full functions of a Bairns' Hoose.

The Bairns' Hoose has been developed in partnership with:

• Aberdeenshire Council Children's Services
• Children First
• Police Scotland
• NHS Grampian
• Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA)
• Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS)
• Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
• University of Edinburgh

A key element of delivering the Bairns' Hoose is the Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM), which went live in Aberdeenshire in November 2022 and forms an essential part of our trauma-informed practice.

Bairns’ Hoose is for any Child or Young Person in Aberdeenshire who is part of a child protection process following an Inter-Agency Referral Discussion (IRD). This includes children who have:

• Experienced or are suspected to have experienced sexual abuse
• Experienced physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, or domestic abuse
• Experienced criminal exploitation, trafficking, or other forms of harm
• Been through a child protection investigation — including children with historic (past) experience of abuse who are referred to the multi-agency screening meeting
• Children who have been witnesses of abuse or violence
• Children under the age of criminal responsibility whose behaviour may have caused serious harm

It is designed to support children who have experienced trauma, helping them access protection, health care, justice processes and recovery support in one safe, child‑friendly place

Parents, carers and non-abusing family members are an important part of the Bairns' Hoose process. Families are offered support through ARR workers, who can help answer questions, provide emotional support, and help with practical arrangements during the process.

You do not need to have all the answers. The Bairns' Hoose team is there to help you understand what is happening and what to expect at every stage.

For more information and who to contact please see the:
Bairns’ Hoose: Supporting Children, Young People and Families to Recover – A Guide for Parent’s and Carers

Professionals from Social Work, Health, Education, Police, and the Third Sector all have a role in the Bairns’ Hoose approach. Key involvement includes:

• Making referrals for recovery support following an IRD
• coordinated follow up by services involved to understand child/family needs and plan the best supports
• Supporting children and families to engage with Bairns’ Hoose services
• Working with the Bairns’ Hoose Coordinator to share information and plan support

For detailed professional guidance, see the Guidance & Resources page.

We understand this is an extremely difficult time for families. The Bairns' Hoose team will:

• Explain what is happening and what to expect at each stage
• Ensure you have the opportunity to ask questions and raise concerns
• Keep you informed of developments where it is appropriate to do so
• Offer you emotional support during the interview day
• Connect you with practical support if needed (travel, childcare, etc.)
• Help you understand how you can best support your child

An ARR worker will be available to support you during the process. They are not there to investigate - they are there to support your family.

Any child or young person who has been part of an Inter-Agency Referral Discussion (IRD) — whether current or historic — can be referred to the multi-agency recovery screening meeting. Referrals can be made by:

• Children's Social Work
• NHS Grampian (health professionals)

The process following referral:

1. The family is asked if they would like contact from the Bairns' Hoose Coordinator
2. If they agree, the Coordinator explains recovery pathways and gathers relevant information
3. A multi-agency screening meeting is held with health and social work
4. A recovery offer is agreed and communicated to the family
5. Recovery planning can be revisited and adjusted throughout the child's journey

For more detailed information, see the Guidance & Resources page.

If your child is involved in a child protection process and you have questions about Bairns' Hoose, please speak to your child's social worker or another professional involved in their care.

If you have concerns about a child's safety and would like to make a referral, please contact children's social work directly or see the Report a Concern page for contact details.

Article 12 of the UNCRC places children’s voices at the heart of decision‑making, recognising them as active rights‑holders whose views should meaningfully influence the matters that affect their lives. Children and families’ voices have shaped our Bairns Hoose work in Aberdeenshire. Led by Children First, creative, child‑centred, and rights-based approaches have been embedded into the development of the Aberdeenshire Bairns Hoose through planned activities with groups and individuals – all of whom are our Changemakers! Children First’s participation approach is rooted in the Lundy Model of Child Participation, focusing on all four elements: Space, Voice, Audience and Influence.

Our Changemakers have directly informed the development of our Bairns’ Hoose, and our partnership has worked hard to ensure that the physical spaces, service delivery, and continued service development reflect what children and young people, and their families, have shared with us.  We are committed to ongoing, sustainable, meaningful participation in Aberdeenshire. You can read more about this participation work below.

• • The Forgotten Children

In October 2023, the Scottish Government provided funding for Aberdeenshire to take part in the Bairns' Hoose Pathfinder programme. This work supports the early testing of the Scottish Barnahus Standards and helps shape how the Bairns' Hoose model can be delivered effectively in practice.

As part of this work, the University of Edinburgh partnered with Aberdeenshire Council in January 2024 to support the implementation of the Aberdeenshire Bairns' Hoose Pathfinder. Learning from this pathfinder will help inform the future rollout of Bairns' Hoose across Scotland.

The evaluation aimed to understand how the planned changes through the Aberdeenshire Bairns' Hoose Pathfinder Partnership could improve safety, justice, recovery and recognition for children who have experienced abuse.

Between 25 November 2024 and 6 January 2025, a research survey gathered the views of professionals working in Aberdeenshire across social work, education and early years, police, health, justice and the voluntary sector. In total, 243 professionals shared their experiences. This was the first survey of its kind in Scotland to capture multidisciplinary professional perspectives before the Bairns' Hoose model is fully introduced.

In November 2025, the University of Edinburgh published Key learning for change: Aberdeenshire Bairns' Hoose programme theory. This report sets out a shared vision for Bairns' Hoose in Aberdeenshire, reflects significant progress made to date, and provides valuable learning about what is needed to turn this vision into everyday practice.

The report should be used as a reflective tool to support collective learning and future decision making, recognising that delivering this level of transformational change takes time.

Evaluation reports:

• Bairns' Hoose (Barnahus) Evaluation — Scotland, University of Edinburgh ↗
• Key Learning for Change: Aberdeenshire Bairns' Hoose (PDF) ↗

An early Pathfinder activity is to undertake a self-assessment of our current practice against the Bairns' Hoose Standards. This will be repeated at different stages of the Pathfinder phase to measure progress over time.

In addition, we have partnered with the University of Edinburgh to evaluate our delivery of the Bairns' Hoose. This builds on the work the University has undertaken with the North Strathclyde partnership, who recently opened their Bairns' Hoose in partnership with Children First.

Further information:

• Bairns' Hoose Scotland ↗
• Scottish Barnahus: vision, principles and approach — gov.scot ↗