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

decision to remove a child's name will be made by a review CPCC at which all
the relevant agencies are represented, as well as the child and their family.
When a child's name is removed from the register, the child and their family must
be informed.
Removal of a child's name from the register should not necessarily lead to a
reduction or withdrawal of services or support to the child and family by any or all
of the agencies. The risk of significant harm to the child may have receded, but
the child may continue to require a range of support; this will form part of the
single planning process for the child. At the point of de-registration, consideration
should be given to whether a different Lead Professional should be appointed
and, if so, arrangements made for the transfer to be agreed. The Child Protection
Plan will, following de-registration, become a Child's Plan.
Making Use of the Register
The register should be maintained by social work services. It should be held
separately from agency records or case files and in secure conditions. Social
work services should appoint a person to maintain and manage the register –
generally known as the Keeper of the Child Protection Register. The keeper
should make sure that all agencies know how to obtain access information from
the register at any time. There should be 24-hour access to the register for all
practitioners who need to make an enquiry about a child and online access for
partner agencies, wherever possible.
Local areas should have in place mechanisms and arrangements for
practitioners making an enquiry to the register, including criteria for when this
should be done and by whom. Local protocols should be in place to make sure
information is shared and every relevant system and organisation is alerted when
there is a child protection concern.
The Scottish Government maintains a list of current Keepers of Child Protection
Registers in Scotland, and contact points for Child Protection Registers in other
parts of the UK. Local authorities should notify the Scottish Government of any
changes so that the list can be kept up-to-date. All practitioners should notify the
keepers of local registers of any changes to details relating to children named on
the register.
The Keeper of the Child Protection Register will be responsible for attempting to
trace a registered child whose whereabouts become unknown, including
notifications and alerts to other areas and services.
Temporary moves of children who are on the Child Protection Register
When families move between authority areas – whether temporarily or
permanently – the original authority will notify the receiving authority immediately,
then follow up the notification in writing. The receiving authority should
immediately place the child's name on their local register. Where possible, the
original authority should advise how long the child is expected to stay in the area.
The authorities should make each other aware when the temporary registration is
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