The Children's Panel hold hearings in order to consider and make decisions on the welfare of the child.

The panel is made up of a group of unpaid, trained volunteers who come from a wide range of backgrounds. There is a panel for each local area.

A children's hearing is made up of three panel members (at least one of which must be male or female). The hearing decides whether compulsory measures of supervision are needed for the child and, if so, what they should be. All panel members are trained to communicate with children and their families.

Members of the public over 18 can apply to become panel members during the annual recruitment campaign in September.