Modernising Hearing Room AV for the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA)

Challenge

SCRA needed to modernise communication facilities across its Hearing Rooms throughout Scotland. These rooms play a pivotal role in child protection proceedings and needed to support more flexible and inclusive participation.

The existing AV infrastructure was outdated and no longer suitable. SCRA required a system that would:

• Enable seamless videoconferencing, allowing remote participation from panel members, families, and legal representatives.
• Offer multiple camera angles so that remote participants could see others in the room without requiring direct eye contact with a display.
• Provide high-quality ceiling microphones to capture all voices clearly.
• Deliver clear, room-filling audio to ensure no detail was missed.
• Blend discreetly into the room to maintain a calming, non-intrusive environment for children.
• Be simple to use, especially for staff without technical backgrounds.

Solution

NuVideo collaborated closely with SCRA’s stakeholders to develop a user-friendly, non-disruptive AV solution tailored to the sensitive environment of Hearing Rooms.

We began with a pilot rollout, engaging directly with end users to gather feedback and refine the system’s usability and performance. The final design incorporated:

• QSC Q-SYS platform for audio DSP, cameras, and control, selected for its reliability, audio clarity, and multipurpose capabilities.
• Sennheiser Ceiling microphones with wide pickup range, ensuring every voice in the room is captured naturally.
• Multiple camera views programmed via ACPR to maintain eye-level perspectives for remote participants.
• QSC Reflect for centralised remote monitoring and management, reducing the need for on-site support at remote locations.

A clean and minimalist installation to avoid intimidating or distracting children in the space.

Outcome

The modernised AV system has significantly improved the quality and inclusivity of hearings. SCRA now benefits from:

• Enhanced participation through seamless hybrid meetings.
• Improved audio and video quality, increasing clarity and engagement for all attendees.
• Simplified operation, empowering staff to manage sessions confidently with minimal training.
• Remote monitoring capabilities, allowing SCRA’s IT team and NuVideo to support systems across the country proactively.

SCRA is now equipped with a future-ready AV solution that not only meets their operational needs but respects the emotional and psychological sensitivity of the children they serve.