Information for professionals working with children & their families
What's new in Child Protection?
Child Abuse inquiry: Scotland
Child Abuse Inquiry: Scotland
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has announced that hearings to investigate residential care establishments run by male religious orders will start in the summer of 2019.
Source: Scottish child abuse inquiry Date: 05 September 2018
Domestic Abuse Interventions: Scotland - Consultation
Domestic Abuse Interventions: Scotland - Consultation
The Scottish Government is consulting on how to improve multi-agency risk assessment and intervention for victims of domestic abuse in Scotland, particularly for women, children and young people. An outline is provided on its Equally Safe strategy as well as using multi-agency risk assessment conferences (MARACs) as a model of multi-agency risk assessment work in practice. Questions for response include: who are the key partners that should be involved in multi-agency working to support victims of domestic abuse?; what guidance is required to support and embed effective multi-agency working for victims of abuse? The consultation closes at midnight 2 March 2019.
Source: Scottish Government Date: 30 November 2018
Further information: Improving multi-agency risk assessment and interventions for victims of domestic abuse: a Scottish Government consultation (PDF)
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Protecting children from domestic abuse
Domestic abuse consultation: Scotland
The Scottish Government has opened a consultation seeking feedback on how policy to protect those at risk of domestic abuse might be developed. Proposals include a new protective order banning perpetrators from their homes to keep people at risk safe. The consultation calls for feedback on whether the police and courts should be able to bar perpetrators of domestic abuse from approaching or contacting any children living with the person at risk. The consultation closes on 29 March 2019.
Source: Scottish Government Date: 21 December 2018
Further information: Scottish Government consultation on protective orders for people at risk of domestic abuse (PDF)
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Protecting children from domestic abuse
CHILD WITNESSES
Child witnesses
The Scottish government has passed the Vulnerable Witnesses (Criminal Evidence) (Scotland) Bill which aims to improve the experience of child witnesses. The Bill ensures more children are able to pre-record evidence in advance of jury trials.
Source: The Scottish Government Date: 09 May 2019
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Child protection system in Scotland
Joint Investigative Interviewing Project
Joint Investigative Interviewing Project
Police Scotland and Social Work Scotland are continuing to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to take forward recommendations of the Evidence and Procedure Review to improve the quality and consistency of Joint Investigative Interviews (JIIs) of children.
Further Information: Joint Investigative Interview Project Bulletin 4.docx
Children (Equal Protection from Assault)(Scotland) Bill
Children (Equal Protection from Assault)(Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Parliament has introduced the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill, to abolish the defence of reasonable chastisement. The Bill will be considered by Parliament to agree to the general principles before moving to the next stage.
Source: Scottish Parliament Date: 07 September 2018
Further information: Children (Equal Protection from Assault)(Scotland) Bill (PDF)
Children and the law
Children and the law
The NSPCC has published information about children and the law. This provides an overview of key legislation and guidance for each of the four nations and covers: definitions of a child; children’s rights and views (including Gillick competency and Fraser guidelines); leaving school and home; child employment; ages of consent; and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Source: NSPCC Learning: children and the law Date: 27 September 2018
‘Time To Listen’− A Joined Up Response To Child Sexual Exploitation And Missing Children
‘Time To Listen’− A Joined Up Response To Child Sexual Exploitation And Missing Children
Government Report on CSE and Missing Children
Progress On Preventing Violence Against Women And Girls
Progress On Preventing Violence Against Women And Girls
The Scottish Government has published the first annual progress report for Equally Safe, its strategy to prevent and eradicate violence against women and girls. Actions taken so far include: expansion of the Rape crisis sexual violence prevention programme in schools and ongoing work with universities and colleges to ensure the provision of a safe environment for students and staff.
Source: Scottish Government Date: 23 November 2018
Further Information: Equally Safe: year one update report (PDF)
Children and young people's mental health: Scotland
Children and young people's mental health: Scotland
The Scottish Government and COSLA have established a task force to improve mental health services for young people in Scotland. A delivery plan sets out how the task force will go about this over its lifespan of two years. Guiding principles include: the approach should have a strong focus on prevention and early intervention; support for children and young people should be appropriate, prompt and proportionate; young people and their families should be centrally involved; the digital context in which children and young people live will be a key consideration.
Source: Scottish Government Date: 19 December 2018
Further information: Children and young people's mental health task force: delivery plan (PDF)
Online abuse and the experience of disabled people
The House of Commons Petitions Committee has published a report, following an inquiry and consultation, looking at the level of abuse that disabled people, including disabled children, receive online. Recommendations include: the government and social media companies must directly consult with disabled people on digital strategy and hate crime law; the government needs to challenge stereotypes and prejudices about disabled people, particularly among children and young people; the law on hate crime must give disabled people the same protections as those who suffer hate crime due to race or religion.
Source: UK Parliament Date: 22 January 2019
Further information: Online abuse and the experience of disabled people (PDF)
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children
United Nations Extreme - Poverty and Human Rights
United Nations Extreme - Poverty and Human Rights
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has published a report by United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, following a visit to nine cities in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Key findings of the report include: many of the recent changes to social support in the UK have had a disparate impact on children. Key recommendations include: Brexit negotiations present an opportunity to examine current social policy and identify what measures can be taken to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children.
Source: OHCHR Date: 16 November 2018
Further information: Statement on visit to the United Kingdom, by Professor Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights (PDF)
Source: OHCHR Date: 16 November 2018
Poverty in Scotland
Poverty in Scotland
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a report setting out figures on poverty in Scotland, focusing on child poverty, disability and gender. Figures show that in the three years from 2014/15 to 2016/17, 230,000 children in Scotland were in relative poverty on average each year.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation Date: 02 October 2018
Protecting Children From Criminal Exploitation, Human Trafficking And Modern Slavery:
Protecting Children From Criminal Exploitation, Human Trafficking And Modern Slavery:
This report is about the findings from three joint targeted area inspections, carried out in the spring of 2018 that examined ‘the multi-agency response to child exploitation and children missing from home, care or education’. It is an addendum to the 2016 report: ‘‘Time to listen’ – a joined up response to child sexual exploitation and missing children’.
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
Institutional Child Sexual Abuse
The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse has published a report looking at messages from research on institutional child sexual abuse. The report looks at the extent, dynamics and impact of institutional abuse and discusses ways of preventing institutional abuse.
Source: Date: 24 September 2018
Further information: Key messages from research on institutional child sexual abuse (PDF)
Child Sexual Abuse: Residential Schools
Child Sexual Abuse: Residential Schools
The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) has published a literature review of research into child sexual abuse (CSA) in residential and non-residential schools. The literature review covers research from five key areas: pupils attending residential schools; standards for keeping children safe from sexual abuse in schools in England and Wales; the scale and nature of CSA in schools; factors that influence CSA in schools; examples of unsuccessful safeguarding measures and positive approaches adopted by schools.
Source: IICSA Date: 22 November 2018
Further information: Child sexual abuse in residential schools: a literature review (PDF)
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Protecting children from sexual abuse
Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football
Sexual Abuse in Scottish Football
The Scottish Football Association has published the interim report of the independent review of sexual abuse in Scottish football.
The Scottish Football Association Date: 26 July 2018
Further information:The interim report of the independent review of sexual abuse in Scottish football (PDF)
How safe are our children? 2018
How safe are our children? 2018
The NSPCC has published How safe are our children? 2018 which compiles and analyses the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists across the four nations in the UK.
Source: NSPCC: How safe are our children? The most comprehensive overview of child protection in the UK
Further information: How safe are our children? The most comprehensive overview of child protection in the UK 2018 (PDF)
No One Noticed No One Heard
No One Noticed No One Heard
A study of disclosures of childhood abuse
This report describes the childhood experiences of abuse of young men and women and how they disclosed this abuse and sought help.
Researchers interviewed 60 young adults (aged 18-24 years) who had experienced high levels of different types of abuse and violence during childhood. The young adults were asked whether they had tried to tell anyone about what was happening to them, and what had happened as a result of their disclosures. Although much research suggests that few children disclose sexual abuse, in this study over 80% had tried to tell someone about the abuse.
Authors: Debbie Allnock and Pam Miller
Published: 2013
C & YP who Display Harmful Sexual Behaviour
C & YP who Display Harmful Sexual Behaviour
The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA) has published key messages from research on children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviour (HSB).The research looks at: what is known about children and young people who display HSB.
Source: CSA Date: 24 July 2018
Further information: Key messages from research on children and young people who display harmful sexual behaviour (PDF)
Peer on Peer Sexual Abuse
Peer on Peer Sexual Abuse
Healthy and unhealthy relationships
ChildLine has released figures which show that it held 3,878 counselling sessions about peer on peer sexual abuse in 2017/18 - a 29% rise since 2016/17.
Source: NSPCC: 29% rise in counselling sessions on peer sexual abuse Date: 18 September 2018
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Making sense of relationships: teaching resources
NSPCC – Child Trafficking.
NSPCC – Child Trafficking.
The NSPCC have just produced a new leaflet aimed at young people who may be trafficked - It is available to download in a number of languages. I will be putting this link on Website but thought it might be useful for you to have it/be aware of it meantime
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/leaflets/trafficking-leaflets-children/
Child Trafficking in the UK
Child Trafficking in the UK
Every child protected against trafficking has published a snapshot report providing an overview of the state of modern slavery affecting children in the UK. The report includes latest statistics and recent policy developments and makes 10 recommendations to the UK Government
Source: ECPAT Date: 22 June 2018
Further information
Cross-Border Child Protection
Cross-Border Child Protection
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) have published a report looking at cross-border child protection. Findings from a case audit of 200 cases referred to CFAB in 2015 and 2016 involving 333 children include: 1 in 4 children in need of protection in the UK who travelled abroad continued to be at risk of abuse and/or neglect.
Source: CFAB Date: 13 September 2018
Further information: Cross-border child safeguarding: challenges, effective social work practice and outcomes for children (PDF)
NHS Scotland – Adverse Childhood Experiences
NHS Scotland – Adverse Childhood Experiences
NHS Scotland has produced a video highlighting the possible lifelong and pervasive impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences It is intended to stimulate discussion about what action can be taken to both prevent and respond to early adversity.
Therapeutic Interventions after Abuse
Therapeutic Interventions after Abuse
NICE has published a quick guide for practitioners and managers to help and support abused and neglected children, young people and their families.
Source: NICE Date: 23 July 2018
Further information: Therapeutic interventions after abuse and neglect (PDF)
ACEs Leading to Victimisation & Criminality in Adulthood
ACEs Leading to Victimisation & Criminality in Adulthood
The Scottish government has published a review setting out a summary of the evidence on the links between adverse childhood experiences (aces) and victimisation and criminality in adulthood.
Source: Scottish government date: 29 may 2018
Further information: what have aces got to do with justice?(pdf)
Physical Punishment of Children
Physical Punishment of Children
AFRUCA (Africans Unite Against Child Abuse) has published a report looking at attitudes towards the physical punishment of children among African communities in Greater Manchester.
Source: AFRUCA Date: 28 September 2018
Further information: Voices of the community: exploring attitudes towards physical chastisement among African communities in Greater Manchester (PDF)
New Childline Website for Under 12s
New Childline Website for Under 12s
Childline has launched a website aimed at children under the age of 12. This provides age appropriate content on topics including: bullying, family, friends, feelings, school, abuse and staying safe.
Source: Childline website for under 12s Date: 27 September 2018
Indecent Images Of Children Support Pack
Indecent Images Of Children Support Pack
The Home Office has updated the supporter pack which accompanies its Steering clear campaign. This aims to educate and empower young men aged 18-24 to navigate the internet more responsibly by increasing understanding of: how to report sexual images of children; the law relating to indecent images of children (IIOC); the harm caused to victims of IIOC. The campaign was developed in partnership with the NSPCC, Marie Collins Foundation and the Internet Watch Foundation.
Source: DfE Date: 6 December 2018
Further information: Indecent images of children: supporter pack (PDF)
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Protecting children from sexual abuse
Coercive control: Impacts on children and young people in the family environment
It is recognised that coercive control is a key feature of abusive relationships. It is therefore essential that the conceptualisation of coercive control and the impact it has on the whole family is recognised and understood.
This review, written by SafeLives – a national charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse for good – is concerned in particular with coercive and controlling behaviour within the context of public and private law proceedings. It includes three main sections:
- About domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour.
- The impact of coercive and controlling behaviour on the family.
- Coercive and controlling behaviour, child contact and court.
Protecting children from abuse by someone in a position of trust or authority
The NSPCC has published information about protecting children from abuse by someone in a position of trust or authority. This includes teachers, care workers, youth justice workers, social workers and doctors. Topics covered include: recognising abuse; responding to concerns; and steps that can be taken to prevent staff and volunteers from abusing their position. The NSPCC is campaigning to close a loophole in legislation to make it illegal for all adults to engage in sexual activity with a 16-and 17-year-old in their care. Currently roles such as sports coaches, driving instructors and youth workers are not classed as being positions of trust.
Source: NSPCC Learning: Protecting children from abuse by someone in a position of trust or authority Date: 22 January 2019
Read more on NSPCC Learning: Protecting 16-and 17-year-olds from sexual abuse
Test February
Test
The impact of Brexit on children and families crossing borders
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) has published a factsheet looking at the impact of the UK leaving the EU on children and families who are crossing, or separated by, international borders. Aimed at social workers within local authorities and professionals working to safeguard children, the factsheet explores: the rights of EU children in care in the UK, the Government’s settlement scheme; and future international cooperation in relation to family law cases.
Source: CFAB Date: 15 January 2019
Further information: The impact of Brexit on children and families crossing borders (PDF)
Keeping Connected - The CPCScotland Weekly Bulletin Issue 46
Keeping Connected - The CPCScotland Weekly Bulletin
Issue 46 - Tuesday 2nd March 2021
Section 1 COVID-19
Guidance, Resources and Information
1.1 Parent Club Wellbeing for Wee Ones Campaign
The Wellbeing for Wee Ones campaign is aimed at parents of young babies and aims to reassure parents that the natural interactions they already have with their babies are having a huge impact on their emotional and social wellbeing, both now and in the future. The campaign also shows that interacting with babies from the moment they’re born is important for their child’s brain development.
https://www.parentclub.scot/topics/health/wellbeing
For a copy of the Wellbeing for Wee Ones Stakeholder Toolkit contact cpcscotland-liaison@strath.ac.uk
1.2 Parent Club return to school and ELC campaign
Parent Club has developed a Return of School and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) Campaign to help parents to feel supported to abide by all current restrictions (both themselves and their children) throughout the phased return to schools and ELC settings. By following the rules, parents and children can help keep schools and nurseries open, and will help to open the school gates for more pupils. In addition to signage already in place in primary school and ELC settings, this campaign is now live on digital and social channels, and will continue until Wednesday, 24th March.
https://www.parentclub.scot/topics/coronavirus/returning-to-school-and-childcare-settings/scottish-schools-reopening https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htnFSPTRkJE&feature=youtu.be
For access to the campaign downloadable assets contact cpcscotland-liaison@strath.ac.uk
1.3 Meeting the Challenge
In the latest in a series of spotlights on adapted practice during the pandemic CELCIS features the approach taken by the staff, teachers and management at Harmeny Education Trust a grant aided special school with accommodation for children and young people with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs. The Trust increased the use of play to ensure children felt safe and secure during a time of instability.
https://www.celcis.org/knowledge-bank/spotlight/meeting-challenge-2/
Research and Evidence Based Reports
Young Scot, the Scottish Youth Parliament, and YouthLink Scotland have published an expanded version of the #LockdownLowdown ‘What young people in Scotland think about their lives as lockdown restrictions change’ report to give a 1deeper insight into how young people feel about their education, relationships, rights, and more, as lockdown restrictions change:
https://youngscot.net/ysobservatory/demographic-results-lockdownlowdown2
Section 2 Other Child Protection Topics
Guidance, Resources and Information
2.1 Safeguarding: consent issues – Guidance for HM Passport Office Staff
The Home Office and HM Passport Office have published guidance for HM Passport Office staff describing how to safeguard a customer and their child, if they tell us that contacting the other parent or guardian for parental consent, (for example, for a change of name) puts them at risk of harm.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-consent-issues/safeguarding-consent-issues
The Scottish Government has published the summary statistics for educational attainment and initial destinations of 2019/20 school leavers from publicly funded schools in Scotland – this release is the first to also contain Experimental Statistics on Foundation Apprenticeships and a wider attainment measure incorporating all Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) qualifications: https://www.gov.scot/publications/summary-statistics-attainment-initial-leaver-destinations-no-3-2021-edition/
2.3 National Adult Protection Co-ordinator Newsletter February 2021
The February 2021 edition of this newsletter is now available. The aim of this newsletter is to provide an outline of news and events that may be of interest to those in the adult protection field. To subscribe contact
https://khub.us18.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=cceb39733f2e9a839ef0e835f&id=603a96b0c2
This month’s newsletter includes a link to a Thematic Safeguarding Adults Review regarding people who sleep rough undertaken by Worcester Safeguarding Adults Board and published in September 2020.
2.4 Independent Review of Adult Care
The Independent Review of Adult Social Care concluded at the end of January 2021 and its report, together with an accompanying short film, was published on 3 February 2021.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/independent-review-adult-social-care-scotland/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bEt9NwtXpE&feature=youtu.be
For Children, Families and Communities
2.5 Young people’s mental health
Belfast Youth Forum in partnership with the Northern Ireland Youth Forum and the Northern Ireland Children’s Commissioner’s Youth Panel have produced a mental health advocacy toolkit for young people designed to give young people a step by step guide to organising a mental health campaign project in their community and support them to campaign on local mental health issues.
https://www.niccy.org/media/3805/heads-up-mental-health-toolkit-18-feb-21.pdf
Training, Learning Events and Resources
2.6 Safe and Together Webinar Series
In this four part webinar series David Mandel, Executive Director and Founder of the Safe & Together Institute, outlines key aspects of the Safe & Together Model and shares tools to help practitioners and managers become more domestic violence-informed in their systems and practice. The webinars are free to those who register and can be accessed live (for the sessions on 24th March) or following the sessions. Topics of the webinars are:
- The Safe & Together Model Principles: Developing your Practice and Improving your Systems
- Domestic Violence informed Leadership - Embedding Sustainable System Change
- Mapping Perpetrator’s Patterns: The Foundation of Domestic Violence Informed Practice
- Working with Complexity: Intersections with Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, and Mental Health
You may have to open this hyperlink in a new browser Safe and Together Webinar series
Research and Evidence Based Reports
2.7 Supervision of designated safeguarding leads in schools
What Works for Children’s Social Care (WWCSC) has published a report exploring the impact of a trial providing monthly supervision sessions delivered by a senior social worker to designated safeguarding leads (DSLs) in primary schools in Bolton. The aim of the programme, developed by Bolton Council, was to improve the appropriateness and quality of contacts to children’s social care, and to better support DSLs in their role. The study found that the support was welcomed by DSLs with some reporting increased confidence and improvements in mental wellbeing.
https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/WWCSC_DSL-Supervision-Evaluation_February_2021_A.pdf
Section 3 News and Opinion
- The British Psychological Society (BPS) is urging the government to reconsider its emphasis on the idea that children and young people need to ‘catch up’ on their education, saying that supporting the wellbeing and educational needs of all children should be a priority.
https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/unhelpful-narrative-lost-learning-during-pandemic
- Children and Young People Now has published an interview with Fiona Duncan, formerly Chair of the Independent Care Review and now Chair of The Promise Oversight Board, on lessons learned from Scotland’s review and her advice for England’s care review: https://www.cypnow.co.uk/analysis/article/lessons-for-england-from-scots-review
- Social media platform Facebook has announced that it is increasing its effort to fight against online child abuse with stricter rules about what is unacceptable content, as well as new tools to detect and report such content: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/wires/afp/article-9292463/Facebook-adds-new-tools-fight-online-child-exploitation.html
- The Guardian reports that analysis of referrals of young people with eating disorders for NHS treatment in England shows that there were 19,562 new referrals of under-18s with eating disorders to NHS-funded secondary mental health services in 2020, a rise of 46% from 13,421 new referrals in 2019.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/20/covid-eating-disorder-referrals-rise-under-18s
- Sky News reports that referrals relating to female genital mutilation (FGM) have dropped in England during the pandemic. NHS Digital recorded 685 new cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in England in the period October to December 2020 compared with 900 new cases recorded in the same period in 2019. It is not known if the drop in numbers is because FGM is happening under the radar or because less FGM is taking place due to flights being banned.
https://news.sky.com/story/fgm-survivors-tell-their-stories-as-female-circumcision-referrals-drop-during-pandemic-12227830
The Scottish Government has announced a further £7.4 million of funding to help tackle child poverty, with £5 million being made available to local authorities specifically to help disabled parents and enhance the support they get, and £2.4 million being allocated to the Social Innovation Partnership, which invests in alternative approaches to tackling poverty and improving lives: https://www.gov.scot/news/tackling-child-poverty-4/
3.3 Workforce Specialist Service
The Scottish Government has announced a new Workforce Specialist Service offering confidential mental health assessment and treatment for health and social care staff, which will be delivered by a multidisciplinary team with experience in treating a range of issues such as stress, anxiety, depression or addiction, with a focus on the impact this may have on a person’s work: https://www.gov.scot/news/specialist-support-for-health-and-social-care-staff/
Please feel free to let us know what you think about the bulletin and provide information for inclusion in future editions. Please contact Alan Small or Susan Mitchell at cpcscotland-liaison@strath.ac.uk. Please note that the information included in this bulletin is provided in good faith. Inclusion does not indicate CPCScotland endorsement of the content of the linked documents o