implications for eligible assessment process and in children and young people to whom this Part young people ongoing consideration of applies, customers needs. (b) to assess the needs of those children and The impacts on eligible young people for services and support it young people should be provides, considered when (f) to take such other action as it considers developing and appropriate for the purposes of improving the implementing reforms and way in which it exercises its functions in projects, providing advice relation to those children and young people. to Ministers, undertaking corporate planning and carrying out SLAB’s monitoring function. Guidance on SLAB will: seek to provide Operations (a) to be alert to matters which, or which circumstances in applying guidance in the Handbooks Directorate might, adversely affect the wellbeing of for legal aid about what specific children and young people to whom this Part information about someone’s applies, Where an individual’s background (in relation to (b) to assess the needs of those children and circumstances or care status or otherwise) young people for services and support it background is deemed might be used where the provides, relevant to the merits of reasonableness test or (f) to take such other action as it considers granting legal aid, this can interests of justice test is appropriate for the purposes of improving the be taken into account. applied to an application. way in which it exercises its functions in relation to those children and young people. Improving written SLAB will: consider looked Operations (c) to promote the interests of those children communications after children and care leavers Directorate and young people, as part of its continuing (d) to seek to provide those children and young SLAB is aware of the programme to improve written people with opportunities to participate in complexity of legal aid and communications. In addition, activities designed to promote their wellbeing, the need to communicate SLAB will seek to work with clearly with applicants. Who Cares? Scotland and
implications for eligible young people The impacts on eligible young people should be considered when developing and implementing reforms and projects, providing advice to Ministers, undertaking corporate planning and carrying out SLAB’s monitoring function. assessment process and in ongoing consideration of customers needs. children and young people to whom this Part applies, (b) to assess the needs of those children and young people for services and support it provides, (f) to take such other action as it considers appropriate for the purposes of improving the way in which it exercises its functions in relation to those children and young people. Guidance on circumstances in applying for legal aid Where an individual’s circumstances or background is deemed relevant to the merits of granting legal aid, this can be taken into account. SLAB will: seek to provide guidance in the Handbooks about what specific information about someone’s background (in relation to care status or otherwise) might be used where the reasonableness test or interests of justice test is applied to an application. Operations Directorate (a) to be alert to matters which, or which might, adversely affect the wellbeing of children and young people to whom this Part applies, (b) to assess the needs of those children and young people for services and support it provides, (f) to take such other action as it considers appropriate for the purposes of improving the way in which it exercises its functions in relation to those children and young people. Improving written communications SLAB is aware of the complexity of legal aid and the need to communicate clearly with applicants. SLAB will: consider looked after children and care leavers as part of its continuing programme to improve written communications. In addition, SLAB will seek to work with Who Cares? Scotland and Operations Directorate (c) to promote the interests of those children and young people, (d) to seek to provide those children and young people with opportunities to participate in activities designed to promote their wellbeing,