Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

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8.6 Specific Guidance • Consideration needs to be given to the immediate safety of the child and/or siblings and other children the alleged perpetrator may have access to. 8.6.1 See Section 3 for details of specific guidance in relation to the following: • Sexual Abuse • Consensual Sexual Activity • Sexual Abuse by organised networks or multiple abusers • Children as abusers • Medical examinations • Consent to treatment • Convicted offenders • Adults who disclose childhood abuse • Pre-birth case conference • Drug and Alcohol Misuse • Domestic Violence • Children with a disability or special needs • Cultural Sensitivity • Allegations of abuse against foster carers/children’s carers/befrienders • Investigations of Allegations of Abuse of Children in Residential Care • Allegations against agency employees • Criminal injuries compensation scheme • Record Keeping • Data Protection Act • European convention on Human Rights • Child Witness • Death of a Child 8.7 Responsibilities of the Team Leader 8.7.1 Referral of Child Abuse 8.7.2 It is the responsibility of the Team Leader to ensure that any referral that suggests that a child or young person may have been abused will be investigated as a matter of the highest priority and that the Social Workers allocated to the case are afforded adequate time to deal effectively with the referral at all stages. 8.7.3 The Team Leader on receipt of a child abuse allegation will decide if a formal investigation under child protection procedures should be undertaken, and to advise on whether checks with other agencies at this stage would inform that decision. These checks would, therefore be carried out without the parent’s knowledge or consent. Unless 116
there is significant concern for the child’s immediate safety, consideration can also be given to convening a case discussion, but such a decision would have to be endorsed by the Service Unit Manager (Children and Families). 8.7.4 The Team Leader will ensure that Social Workers carry out the procedures and that necessary standards of practice are achieved. 8.7.5 If any child has been seriously injured or if ‘organised’ abuse is suspected, notify the Principal Officer (Children, Families and Criminal Justice) immediately. 8.7.6 Where either at the point of referral, or at any time during an investigation, there is reasonable cause to suspect that a criminal offence may have been committed, inform the Police. 8.7.7 Investigation Process 8.7.7.1 The Team Leader will co-ordinate all aspects of the initial investigation and be available for supervision of all Social Workers involved. 8.7.7.2 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 respective roles and responsibilities. The danger of prejudicing the integrity of statements from witnesses and any other evidence must be borne in mind at this early stage of investigation. If an investigation is required by both Police and Social Work, this will be done jointly wherever possible to avoid multiple interviews with the alleged victim. 8.7.7.3 Also at this stage, clarity should be established jointly as to how, when and by whom the parents/person having parental responsibilities, care or control will be advised of any concerns. Generally speaking, however, parents will always be informed prior to the child being interviewed, unless there is felt to be a real risk to the child of further significant harm. Consideration at this stage should be given to convening a planning meeting to address the above issues and this should be convened by the Team Leader and agreement reached with the Police as to how the planning meeting will be minuted. 8.7.7.4 The Team Leader in consultation with the Police, relevant Medical Personnel will decide if the child requires medical examination for evidential purposes. 117
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CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES The Eas
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CONTENTS Foreword Section 1: Defini
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Section 5: The Child Protection Reg
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APPENDICES Appendix 1: The Main Tas
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1.0.4.1 If it is agreed that a join
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1.3 Sexual Abuse 1.3.1 “Any child
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SECTION 2 Investigation of Suspecte
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Team Leader will liaise with the Se
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interviews by a Police Officer and
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e widely available to general pract
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2.8 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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properly investigating them can als
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person with whom the child shares h
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(i) (j) (k) (l) Once a referral has
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for formal intervention in this par
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public interest to prosecute. It is
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(Article 19 of the UN Convention on
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made available. The criminal aspect
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3.7 Convicted Offenders 3.7.1 A sep
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serious addiction by the parent who
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3.12 Children with a disability or
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3.14.1.3 Any such concerns should b
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3.14.8 Deciding on How the Matter s
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3.14.13.3 The Link Worker/Family Pl
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3.15.1.4 Attention to young peoples
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3.15.4.6 While the possible need fo
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• deciding that there is an alleg
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The safety of other children 3.15.6
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3.15.7.8 An assessment of the immed
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3.15.7.21 At an appropriate stage t
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3.15.7.35 Any involvement of a youn
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3.17.2.2 There are two important el
Page 65 and 66: 3.17.4.2 Social workers must submit
Page 67 and 68: 3.19 The Data Protection Act 3.20.1
Page 69 and 70: 3.21.6.5. A child may have to give
Page 71 and 72: eport this to the Service Unit Mana
Page 73 and 74: of making this decision. It may wel
Page 75 and 76: 4.6 Professionals and Others 4.6.1
Page 77 and 78: his or his wishes and feelings and
Page 79 and 80: 4.13.1 Once a child’s name has be
Page 81 and 82: 4.18 Key worker 4.18.1 A key worker
Page 83 and 84: Section 5 The Child Protection Regi
Page 85 and 86: 5.7.1 There are two Child Protectio
Page 87 and 88: (f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) (m) (n)
Page 89 and 90: 5.15 A Registered Child moving into
Page 91 and 92: SECTION 6 Informing and Consulting
Page 93 and 94: 6.5.4 Family members will need to k
Page 95 and 96: • The procedure for making an app
Page 97 and 98: 7.5 Information required for an app
Page 99 and 100: to any person or class of person sp
Page 101 and 102: 7.12 Procedure for making an applic
Page 103 and 104: for recall or variation the Team Le
Page 105 and 106: 7.16.3 The sheriff when considering
Page 107 and 108: notification for the application fo
Page 109 and 110: 7.22.7 If an emergency authorisatio
Page 111 and 112: (e) (f) (g) (h) Having undertaken i
Page 113 and 114: procedures for application to a She
Page 115: Families) or equivalent. It will be
Page 119 and 120: 8.7.8.5 The Team Leader will inform
Page 121 and 122: (o) Where there is disagreement abo
Page 123 and 124: It will be the responsibility of ea
Page 125 and 126: (b) (c) (d) (e) No explanation of t
Page 127 and 128: Abdominal Injuries In a few cases,
Page 129 and 130: • Unusual genital odour. • Anxi
Page 131 and 132: APPENDIX 3 Referral/Reporting Conta
Page 133 and 134: Glossary of Medical Terms and Condi
Page 135 and 136: Appendix 5 HIV and other blood-born
Page 137 and 138: • Should worker’s aim for a sam
Page 139 and 140: APPENDIX 6 List of Sign Language In
Page 141 and 142: APPENDIX 8 East Ayrshire Council Ch
Page 143 and 144: Risk Assessment Risk Assessment is
Page 145 and 146: for each release in a planned progr
Page 147 and 148: Assessment and Supervision of Sex O
Page 149 and 150: • is over sixteen • is a convic
Page 151 and 152: Help To: The Director of Social Wor
Page 153 and 154: APPENDIX 11 EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL E
Page 155 and 156: Signed: Print Name: Status: Date: S
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Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

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