A children's hearing is carried out by three specially trained lay tribunal members of the children's panel, a children's reporter, child and legal guardian and a representative of the local social work department. The children's reporter takes no part in the decision making process of a children's hearing. A change to the role was introduced in September 2009 and the reporter is able to make representations if the panel is at risk of making a decision which is not, in the reporter's view, competent or procedurally correct. The reporter is responsible for the administration of the Hearing and also represents the decisions of hearings in a court setting when grounds of referral (now known as the statement of grounds) are disputed or the child or relevant person is unable to understand and comment on the statement of grounds (for example, due to the child's age).