Every child and young person has the right to be heard, respected and involved in decisions about their healthcare. Yet through our On My Way report and the voices of our Health Rights Defenders, we know that children and young people do not always experience healthcare in a way that fully respects their rights. That is why Children’s Health Scotland was delighted to deliver Children’s Health Rights training as part of the induction programme for newly recruited staff at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. The session brought together healthcare professionals to explore what a rights-based approach to healthcare looks like in practice and why it matters for every child and young person accessing services.
At the heart of the training were the real experiences of children and young people living with long-term health conditions and disabilities. Through our On My Way report, staff heard directly about the barriers children face when accessing care, as well as the changes they want to see. The session highlighted how listening to children’s voices can help create healthcare environments where children feel safe, valued and empowered to participate in decisions about their health.
The training explored key children’s rights frameworks including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the EACH Charter, and our My Health, My Rights campaign. Together, these frameworks help ensure that children are treated with dignity, receive information they can understand, have access to appropriate support, and are active participants in their healthcare journey.
Importantly, the session demonstrated that children’s rights are not an additional responsibility. They are fundamental to delivering high-quality healthcare.
Turning Rights into Everyday Practice
The impact of the training was clear. Following the session:
- 96% of participants reported an improved understanding of a rights-based approach for children and young people.
- 96% reported increased knowledge of the UNCRC.
- 96% reported increased knowledge of the EACH Charter.
- 100% said they felt better able to support children and young people in their care.
These results demonstrate the value of embedding Children’s Health Rights into staff development and induction programmes. When healthcare professionals understand children’s rights, they are better equipped to create positive healthcare experiences and ensure children and families feel informed, included and respected.
Rhianne Forrest, Children’s Services Manager at Children’s Health Scotland, said:
We are incredibly proud to be working closely with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde as they continue their journey towards becoming a Health Rights Aware Health Board. They have been a fantastic partner, supporting and championing our work to ensure children’s voices are at the heart of healthcare improvement.
Through our Health Rights Defenders and the On My Way report, children and young people have told us time and time again that being listened to, involved in decisions, and treated with dignity makes a huge difference to their healthcare experiences. By embedding Children’s Health Rights training into staff induction, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have taken a vital step towards ensuring new staff begin their careers with children’s rights at the centre of everything they do.
Creating a Health Rights Aware workforce is how we move children’s rights from principles on paper into everyday practice, benefiting children and families across Scotland.
Listening to Children, Shaping Better Healthcare
One of the key messages throughout the training was the importance of listening to children and young people as experts in their own experiences.
Our Health Rights Defenders have repeatedly highlighted the difference it makes when healthcare professionals speak directly to them, explain information in ways they can understand, and take time to listen to their views and concerns. These messages align closely with the rights outlined in the UNCRC, the principles of the EACH Charter, and the priorities identified through our My Health, My Rights campaign.
By helping staff understand these rights and the experiences behind them, the training supports a culture where children and young people are not simply recipients of care, but active partners in their healthcare journey.
As Children’s Health Scotland continues to work alongside NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and healthcare providers across Scotland, we are encouraged to see organisations taking meaningful steps towards becoming more Health Rights Aware.
Because when children know their rights, and healthcare professionals understand how to uphold them, better healthcare experiences are possible for everyone.
Want training?
If you are interested in health rights training or any of the trainings we offer, please contact Rhianne on CYPHRS@childrenshealthscotland.org
