Child Protection

A collection of resources on the law, policy and practice of child protection. Includes case studies and exercises.

Integrated strategy for the early years

This paper focuses on the services provided to young children (from pre-birth to 5) and their families.

It sets out a framework which draws together existing policies from across the Scottish Executive in this area – whether that is promoting childcare, health visitor support, preschool education or broader support for parenting skills.

It seeks to promote greater coherence between these executive policies to give better support to joined-up delivery on the ground.

Protecting children: the next steps to securing their safety - a policy position paper on the establishment of an index of adults unsuitable to work with children

The consultation paper Protecting Children: Securing Their Safety - A Pre-legislative Consultation Paper on Establishing an Index of Adults Unsuitable to Work with Children was published in July 2000. It set out the Scottish Executive’s intention to establish an Index of persons dismissed from employment (including as unpaid volunteers) with children in circumstances leading to the conclusion that they might pose a threat to children.

Vulnerable children: young runaways and children abused through prostitution

This consultation paper outlines why the needs of young runaways and children involved in sexual exploitation through prostitution are important and looks at the preventative work which is being taken forward to address the underlying issues which may increase a child’s vulnerability.

The provision of services to support children and young people is also discussed.

Analysis of external consultation on, and the Scottish Executive’s response to ‘Reducing the Risk : improving the response to sex offending’, the report of the Expert Panel on Sex Offending

This report analyses the responses to a consultation on the report ‘Reducing the Risk: Improving the Response to Sex Offending’ by the Expert Panel on Sex Offending. It also sets out the Executive’s response to the Expert Panel’s report.

Scottish Executive response to the report from the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on the inquiry into the need for a Children's Commissioner in Scotland

This report is submitted by the Scottish Executive in response to the Report from the Education, Culture and Sport Committee on the Inquiry into the Need for a Children’s Commissioner in Scotland.

Growth and development: national overview

This is the second annual report prepared by the Chief Social Work Inspector. Completed in 2002, it includes a national overview of social work services across Scotland and short reviews of services in each of the 32 councils.

The annual report is based on analyses, carried out by a small Inspectorate team, of existing data, plans, reports and reviews. The team also visited all 32 authorities and had full discussions with senior officials.

For Scotland's children: better integrated children's services (Part 2)

This is the second part of the report of an action team of experts from local government, the NHS and the voluntary sector to look at how better to integrate children’s services.

Their action plan contains a range of ways in which local authorities, the NHS and the voluntary sector can work together to create a single children’s services system, backed up by a number of good practice examples.