The naughty step post CHIP

After 2 evenings of returning home after 8.30 I promised that I would be home for dinner at 7pm ( which is my target time).

I had a full day at the Scottish Governemnt at Victoria Quay. First, in the morning for nearly 3 hours discussion at CHIP - the Children's Hearings Improvement Partnership - see extra.

We discussed the recent Parliamentary round table discussion which had focused on legal representatives attending children's hearings and reports that some - few - might have an adverse impact on the discussion with the child that is meant to take place. We also had reports on the various work streams and what we might prioritise in the coming months, alongside the review of care which is getting underway.

That was followed, after a quick sandwich, by a similar length discussion on youth justice. Lots of synergies with a need for the right data and a focus on outcomes.

It meant I was a bit later back to the office than planned and spent most of the journey listening to the developing news of the horrible senseless attack in London.

Once back it was catching up on the email traffic during the day and getting round to start writing a couple of Board papers for next week and getting the 100 or so pages for the first meeting tomorrow together.

Several colleagues were working and chatting and as one of them said they had to get home for a birthday family meal I said I'd probably work for another 40 minutes and head off at 18.30. I was shocked to learn it was already 18.50. Time had flown.

Quick phone home with apologies and a gentle (20mph) drive home. Not too late fortunately for dinner - but the naughty step loomed large!