Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

Team Leader will liaise with the Senior Police Officer involved before
the interviews commence to co-ordinate the investigation.
NOTE.
(m)
(n)
ANONYMITY. Any professional or person who acts on behalf of any
agency should expect to be identified as the source of referral.
If a member of the public reports a concern and requests anonymity
it must be pointed out to them by the investigating Social Worker that
the parent may well deduce their identity, or that they may be
required to give evidence in Court.
The Team Leader will consult with the police to clarify if the child
requires medical examination for evidential purposes. The permission
of the relevant person must always be sought but the wishes and
feelings of the child must be taken into account (see Children
(Scotland) Act 1995, Section 93(2)(b) for clarification of ‘relevant
person’),
Note. ‘A person under the age of 16 years shall have legal capacity to
consent on his/her own behalf to any surgical, medical or dental
procedure where, in the opinion of a qualified practitioner attending
him/her, he/she is capable of understanding the nature and possible
consequence of the procedure or treatment’. (Age of Legal Capacity
in (Scotland) Act 1991).
No child, except in cases of essential treatment, should be made to
undergo an examination against their will or if it causes them undue
distress.
(o)
(p)
(q)
N.B
The Team Leader will ensure that the referring agency or individual
and any other appropriate agency is kept informed during the course
of the investigation and of the outcome.
If the Team Leader in consultation with the Service Unit Manager
(Children and Families) decides to terminate the investigation prior to
the Case Conference, they will inform the parents in writing and
record the reason for the termination in the case file.
Where abuse is confirmed or suspected, the Service Unit Manager
(Children and Families) will be informed and will normally convene a
Child Protection Case Conference within five working days of the
initial investigation being completed. The reasons of any deviation
from this standard will be recorded in the case file by the Service Unit
Manager (Children and Families).
Specific guidance for Social workers is contained in Section 8 of
the Procedures.
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