From Barnahus to Bairns Hoose: Early enablers and barriers to implementation and systems transformation in Scotland

Inspired by the Scandinavian Barnahus model, ‘Bairns Hoose’ (child’s house in Scottish vernacular) represents a significant and progressive innovation in the landscape of child welfare and justice in Scotland. The fundamental aim of Barnahus is to create a single, child-friendly setting where children who have experienced abuse, violence, or other forms of trauma can receive the necessary support and services, including legal, medical, social, and psychological assistance. This integrative approach seeks to mitigate the further trauma that can be induced by navigating a fragmented system and repeatedly recounting their traumatic experiences. This paper focuses on research findings from the early development period (2021-22) of the first Barnahus in Scotland, offering insights into professional’s perceptions of the current ‘system’ for children affected by abuse and the dynamic tensions created by the interaction of enablers and barriers impacting the initial development and implementation of the multidisciplinary approach. We argue that the introduction of the Barnahus model requires a recognition of the dynamics of early implementation to help drive system change and reduce resistance.