National guidance for child protection in Scotland - Scottish ...

Working jointly with the Nurse Consultant/Lead Nurse to develop and
undertake the evaluation and quality assurance of the child protection
services provided by the Health Board.
Ensuring that there are suitable facilities for the examination of children
and young people suspected of being abused including advice on the
nature of the examination, method of recording, and access to suitably
trained forensic police surgeons.
Developing, leading and participating in regular peer review, advice and
support both locally and nationally with peers in the management of
complex and difficult cases.
Developing the medical workforce and training other doctors as
appropriate.
Nurse Consultant/Lead Nurse for Child Protection/Vulnerable Children
The Nurse Consultant for child protection/vulnerable children provides strategic
and professional leadership in child protection to all healthcare staff and to
services working with vulnerable children and young people within the Health
Board area. They should have additional training, competencies, qualifications
and masters in a relevant subject. The Lead Nurse should advise the appropriate
Health Board Executive staff on child protection services, contribute to the
development of strategic planning arrangements, standards and guidelines with
the Lead Paediatrician for child protection. The Lead Nurse may represent the
Board in local, regional or national strategic groups in child protection.
The Lead Nurse for child protection will:
Provide expert clinical advice on child protection to all healthcare staff.
Work jointly with the Lead Paediatrician in order to undertake self
evaluation and ensure quality assurance and service development in child
protection.
Ensure the national training strategy for child protection for all healthcare
staff is incorporated, implemented and evaluated.
Provide supervision for those nurses with a role in child protection
including any operational responsibility and line management of the
dedicated posts within the health child protection service and services for
Looked After Children.
Ensure direct child protection supervision for designated staff is in place.
Ensure specialist advice and support is accessible to all staff in relation to
child protection.
Provide clinical and professional leadership in child protection and work in
collaboration with medical colleagues, Allied Health Professionals (AHPs),
managers and front-line staff to deliver high quality child protection
services.
Child Protection Nurse Adviser
In some larger Health Boards there will be a Child Protection Nurse Adviser. The
Child Protection Nurse Adviser will:
Support the Nurse Consultant/Lead Nurse in delivering the child protection
service across the Board area both in an intra and interagency basis.
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