21.04.2009
The Scottish Parliament will tomorrow be asked to approve the nomination of Tam Baillie as the new Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland.
The Parliament will tomorrow be asked to approve the nomination of Tam Baillie as the new Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland.
Mr Baillie, who is currently Director of Policy for the children’s charity Barnardo’s Scotland, is set to replace current officeholder Kathleen Marshall.
The Children and Young People Commissioner’s main role is to promote and safeguard the rights of young people. This includes keeping under review any law, policy or practice to ensure children and young people have access to a range of services across Scotland.
The Parliament will be invited to agree Mr Baillie’s nomination before the recommendation goes to Her Majesty The Queen for formal appointment. If approved, it is expected he will take up post in mid-May 2009.
Seventeen children and young people from across Scotland were invited to take part in the recruitment process for the commissioner in Edinburgh earlier this year.
Mr Baillie, who has worked at Barnardo’s since 2003, has previously worked with young offenders, young homeless people and young people leaving care within statutory and voluntary organisations across the UK.
He is currently the chair of the Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights, a position he will give up once nominated as Commissioner.