Abstract
The Children (Scotland) Act 1995 introduces important changes that may in the long term undermine the principles of early intervention, partnership and child welfare embodied in the Children‘s Hearings System. The Act can also be seen to represent a shift towards a more justice-oriented approach to child-care decision-making. Paradoxically whilst child-care policy is moving towards a renewed interest in prevention, family support and partnership, already central concerns in the Children’s Hearings System, the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 may in practice operate to endanger these strengths.