Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
Having undertaken initial enquiries, the Social Worker will
pass the information to a Team Leader in the Children and
Families Team, or the Service Unit Manager (Children and
Families). It should be made clear that no formal
investigation will be initiated without the direction and
overview of a Social Work Manager. Once a decision is
taken to instigate Child Protection Procedures, an alert
should be placed with the Central Child Protection Register
(telephone number 0141 305 6930, fax number 0141 334
8577)
Bearing in mind that child abuse can be a criminal offence,
where either at the point of referral, or at any time during
the investigation, there is reasonable cause to suspect that
an offence may have been committed, the police must be
informed immediately. This is the responsibility of the
Team Leader.
The Social Worker, on being assigned to the investigation
of the referral, will immediately consult with any other
agency which may be currently concerned with or have
information about the family, but should not allow delays in
the consultative process to put off the necessary
investigation.
When informing the police of a suspected offence, the
Team Leader in liaison with the investigating officer from
the police must jointly negotiate who does what and when,
in order to ensure clarity of the respective roles and
responsibilities. Also at this stage, clarity and agreement
should be established as to how, when and by whom, the
parents or persons having parental responsibilities, care or
control, will be advised of any concerns.
8.2 Investigation Process
8.2.1 All interviews with children need to be carefully planned and clear
decisions made about who should be involved. It is the responsibility
of the Team Leader to co-ordinate this and convene a planning
meeting if required. Children must always be interviewed with
sensitivity and care. The parents and other relevant persons should
be interviewed and careful notes taken of their account of any
concerns or injury sustained. The Social Worker must record and
retain in the case file all contemporaneous notes as these may be
required for evidential purposes at a later stage in the process.
8.2.2 The child should be seen with the knowledge and consent of the
parent and any person having parental responsibilities, care or
control. Where consent of this person is not possible or appropriate,
the reasons for this should be recorded in the case file. If
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