Val de Souza Appointed as Chair of the Bairns’ Hoose National Governance Group

That the Parliament congratulates Val de Souza on her appointment as Chair of the Bairns’ Hoose National Governance Group; recognises the important role that the Group has in implementing the Bairns’ Hoose model for children who are the victims or witnesses of abuse or violence, providing children with access to holistic services under one roof, and improving the way they are dealt with in the Scottish justice system; notes the extensive experience that Val de Souza brings to the role, which, it understands, comprises 30 years working in the social care and social justice sectors, including spending the last five years as Chief Officer for South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership and Director of Social Services at South Lanarkshire Council; acknowledges that the National Governance Group’s approach focusses on providing a child-centred and trauma-informed approach to delivering justice, care, and recovery for children in the Scottish justice system; welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to ensuring access to a Bairns’ Hoose for every child who has been a victim of, or witness of, abuse or violence by 2025, and wishes Val de Souza every success in the delivery of this goal.