Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

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SECTION 1 Definitions and Categories 1.0 Definitions of Abuse Child Protection Procedures apply to children and young people who have not yet reached their sixteenth birthday and young people aged between sixteen and eighteen years of age who are currently on Supervision Requirements through the Children’s Hearing system. Appropriate consideration should also be given to any young person over the age of sixteen years affected by disability. (See Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Section 93(2) (b)) 1.0.1 Definitions perform two helpful functions. 1.0.1.1 They encourage the keeping of an open mind about Child Protection responsibilities and the wide range of abusive acts which may be committed against children. 1.0.1.2 They limit Child Protection interventions only to those circumstances where it is appropriate and necessary. 1.0.2 The general definition of child abuse adopted by Central Government is contained in the Scottish Office document ‘Protecting Children – A Shared Responsibility – Guidance on Interagency Co-operation’ issued in June 1998. 1.0.3 It states: ‘Children may be in need of protection where their basic needs are not being met in a manner appropriate to their stage of development, and they will be at risk from avoidable acts of commission or omission on the part of their parent(s), sibling(s) or other relative(s) or carer(s) (i.e. the person while not a parent who has actual care or control of a child). 1.0.4 When it is suspected that a child or young person has been abused by an acquaintance or stranger, consideration will also have to be given as to whether Child Protection Procedures require to be followed. In such cases it would depend on whether the abusive event was thought to demonstrate an avoidable lack of care on the part of the parent or person having parental responsibility, care or control. Where it is established that there has been avoidable lack of care on the part of the parent or persons having parental responsibility, care or control, the police and team leader should discuss whether or not there is a role for social workers to jointly interview children with the police. This may be appropriate, for example, where there is a social worker involved with the family whom the child already knows and trusts. 8
1.0.4.1 If it is agreed that a joint police/social work investigation should take place, the police officer, social worker and team leader must meet and plan the interviews. They must agree on the type of interview to be undertaken. 1.0.4.2 They must decide on: ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Where the interviews will take place What questions will be asked Who will ask the questions Who will record the interviews 1.0.4.3 The aim is to create a safe atmosphere where the child feels able to state what happened, if anything. 1.0.4.4 In deciding where to interview the child the main concern should be the child’s needs. The child should be interviewed in premises that are non-threatening and nonstigmatising. Efforts should be made to avoid taking children to police stations to be interviewed as this may have associations of blame and guilt for a child. 1.0.4.5 If a joint interview is not necessary the police should then advise the Team Leader when it is appropriate for Social Work to visit the family to offer any necessary support or further services. 1.0.4.6 Where appropriate the Team Leader should consider convening a Case Discussion to plan support for the family. 1.0.4.7 If the police decide that their investigations are complete or that there is no need to investigate, the local authority still have a responsibility to consider whether or not a child protection investigation should take place. 1.0.5 If an investigation concludes there is no clear evidence of child abuse, consideration must always be given to the quality of care a child receives and whether there is a need to provide further services or support to the child and family. 1.0.6 To define an act or omission as abusive and/or presenting future risk for the purpose of initiating the Child Protection Procedures two elements must be evident: (a) Is there significant demonstrable harm to the child or young person, and/or is there reason to believe that he or she will be at risk of significant harm in some way in the future. Harm is likely to be significant if it is severe or 9
Page 1 and 2: CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES The Eas
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS Foreword Section 1: Defini
Page 5 and 6: Section 5: The Child Protection Reg
Page 7: APPENDICES Appendix 1: The Main Tas
Page 11 and 12: 1.3 Sexual Abuse 1.3.1 “Any child
Page 13 and 14: SECTION 2 Investigation of Suspecte
Page 15 and 16: Team Leader will liaise with the Se
Page 17 and 18: interviews by a Police Officer and
Page 19 and 20: e widely available to general pract
Page 21 and 22: 2.8 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Page 23 and 24: properly investigating them can als
Page 25 and 26: person with whom the child shares h
Page 27 and 28: (i) (j) (k) (l) Once a referral has
Page 29 and 30: for formal intervention in this par
Page 31 and 32: public interest to prosecute. It is
Page 33 and 34: (Article 19 of the UN Convention on
Page 35 and 36: made available. The criminal aspect
Page 37 and 38: 3.7 Convicted Offenders 3.7.1 A sep
Page 39 and 40: serious addiction by the parent who
Page 41 and 42: 3.12 Children with a disability or
Page 43 and 44: 3.14.1.3 Any such concerns should b
Page 45 and 46: 3.14.8 Deciding on How the Matter s
Page 47 and 48: 3.14.13.3 The Link Worker/Family Pl
Page 49 and 50: 3.15.1.4 Attention to young peoples
Page 51 and 52: 3.15.4.6 While the possible need fo
Page 53 and 54: • deciding that there is an alleg
Page 55 and 56: The safety of other children 3.15.6
Page 57 and 58: 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
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3.17.4.2 Social workers must submit
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3.19 The Data Protection Act 3.20.1
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3.21.6.5. A child may have to give
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eport this to the Service Unit Mana
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of making this decision. It may wel
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4.6 Professionals and Others 4.6.1
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his or his wishes and feelings and
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4.13.1 Once a child’s name has be
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4.18 Key worker 4.18.1 A key worker
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Section 5 The Child Protection Regi
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5.7.1 There are two Child Protectio
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(f) (g) (h) (i) (j) (k) (l) (m) (n)
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5.15 A Registered Child moving into
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SECTION 6 Informing and Consulting
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6.5.4 Family members will need to k
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• The procedure for making an app
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7.5 Information required for an app
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to any person or class of person sp
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7.12 Procedure for making an applic
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for recall or variation the Team Le
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7.16.3 The sheriff when considering
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notification for the application fo
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7.22.7 If an emergency authorisatio
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(e) (f) (g) (h) Having undertaken i
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procedures for application to a She
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Families) or equivalent. It will be
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there is significant concern for th
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8.7.8.5 The Team Leader will inform
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(o) Where there is disagreement abo
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It will be the responsibility of ea
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(b) (c) (d) (e) No explanation of t
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Abdominal Injuries In a few cases,
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• Unusual genital odour. • Anxi
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APPENDIX 3 Referral/Reporting Conta
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Glossary of Medical Terms and Condi
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Appendix 5 HIV and other blood-born
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• Should worker’s aim for a sam
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APPENDIX 6 List of Sign Language In
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APPENDIX 8 East Ayrshire Council Ch
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Risk Assessment Risk Assessment is
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for each release in a planned progr
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Assessment and Supervision of Sex O
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• is over sixteen • is a convic
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Help To: The Director of Social Wor
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APPENDIX 11 EAST AYRSHIRE COUNCIL E
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Signed: Print Name: Status: Date: S
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Child Protection Procedures - East Ayrshire Council

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