Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

3.14.8 Deciding on How the Matter should be Investigated and by
Whom
3.14.8.1 The decision to investigate using child protection
procedures should be made by the Service Unit Manager
responsible for the child and the Principal Officer (Children
& Families and Criminal Justice) should be advised of this.
The investigation should ordinarily be undertaken by the
social worker for the child and another appropriately
experienced member of staff. The practice in terms of
undertaking the investigation should follow the procedures
and guidance for investigations outlined in Section 2.
3.14.8.2 Social Workers undertaking investigations must have
access to all information available to the social work
department in respect of:
3.14.9 Medical Examinations
• The child
• The foster carer
• Other children in the household
3.14.9.1 Where a medical examination is deemed appropriate this
should be carried out in accordance with the procedures in
Section 2.
3.14.9.2 Where a foster placement is terminated in the context of a
child protection investigation the child must be medically
examined before commencing a new placement. This
applies irrespective of whether the circumstances of the
investigation would in themselves merit a medical
examination. (NB the child’s right to consent or withhold
consent).
3.14.10 Advising Relevant Others
3.14.10.1 The decision to initiate child protection procedures should
be conveyed to the foster carer unless it would jeopardise
the child’s safety or hamper enquiries.
3.14.10.2 They should be advised of the procedures to be used and
the likely time scale.
3.14.10.3 They should also be advised of the availability of support
from the Social Work Department. This will normally be
provided by their Link Worker/Family Placement
Supervisor who should not be involved in the process of
investigating the allegation.
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