Information for practitioners

Whatever your professional role, you play an important part in protecting children and young people in East Ayrshire. As a practitioner, you have the following responsibilities: 

• to be aware of your organisation’s child protection policies and procedures
• to be alert to indicators of concern in children and young people you come into contact with
• to respond to concerns you have about a child by acting in accordance with your organisation’s procedures

The following will support you in fulfilling these responsibilities.

National guidance for child protection

The National Guidance for Child Protection provides information on new areas of practice and approaches which have shaped activity at both national and local level.

Ayrshire multi-agency child protection practitioner procedures

Child protection policies and procedures in East Ayrshire are informed by Ayrshire Multi-Agency Child Protection Practitioner Procedures (PDF 1.47MB).

Getting it right for every child

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is the national approach in Scotland to improving outcomes and supporting the wellbeing of our children and young people by offering the right help at the right time from the right people. It supports them and their parent(s) to work in partnership with the services that can help them.

More information is available on the Ayrshire GIRFEC website.

Scottish Government national guidance for learning reviews

The Scottish Government, in September 2021, published National Guidance for Child Protection Committees Undertaking Learning Reviews.

This replaces the previously revised National Guidance for Child Protection Committees – Conducting a Significant Case Review.

This guidance is primarily intended for members of Child Protection Committees (CPCs) across Scotland, whilst it also has relevance for Chief Officers Groups, the Scottish Government and the Care Inspectorate. However, it should also be read and understood by a wide multi-agency audience.

All three Ayrshire CPCs have collaborated to produce an Ayrshire Learning Review Guidance which include Annexes. This guidance provides a common approach to handling Learning Reviews in Ayrshire and should be used as a guide by Learning Review Panels  to follow the processes and procedures set out to conduct a Learning Review.

Sudden and unexpected death in infancy

A toolkit has been developed by Health Improvement Scotland (HIS). It offers multi-agency guidance to all multi-agency practitioners in respect of a sudden and unexpected death in infancy.

Referral to the reporter

Guidance has been provided by the Scottish Children's Reporter Adminstration (SCRA) to give practical advice to professionals and any other person who may be considering making a referral to the reporter. 

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration: How to make a Referral

They have issued a briefing sheet (PDF 310 KB) and a training resource (PDF 578 KB) to help new and recently qualified social workers, help prepare children and young people for Hearings.

Human trafficking and exploitation

Support and guidance in relation to Human (including Child) Trafficking and Exploitation can be found at  Scottish Government: Human trafficking.

Risk of harm or suicide

Reviewed in September 2015, the Ayrshire multi-agency guidance for people working with children and young people at risk of self-harm or suicide (PDF 3.97 MB) provided useful information to help ensure that all staff working or in contact with children and young people in Ayrshire provide a consistent, caring and appropriate response to children and young people who have been, or are at risk of, self-harm and suicide.

Protection training

People who work with children and young people throughout East Ayrshire can access a variety of child protection training opportunities.

• The Multi Agency Children's Services Learning and Development Calendar has been suspended with no further face to face training events taking place before April 2021. All courses scheduled to take place before then have now been cancelled until further notice.
• View the Prevention and Service Support Team Interim Addiction Training Calendar
• GOV.UK: Safeguarding in general dental practice
• Watch the West of Scotland Child Protection Consortium on YouTube - Making Best Use of Chronologies animation:

Contact us at the details below for further information on training opportunities. 

Neglect

Child Protection Scotland, with support from CELCIS and Scottish Government, has a series of online learning webinars to raise awareness nationally about the impact of neglect on children and young people.

Recordings and transcripts are available, providing an opportunity to gain further insight into good practice and approaches.

Child Protection Scotland: Thinking critically about neglect webinar

Child Protection Scotland: Family group decision making for unborn babies and young infants webinar

Briefing notes

A series of practitioner briefing notes have been created to assist and support front line practitioners in their work with children and families. These documents are listed below:

1. Child Sexual Exploitation - New Definition and Briefing paper
2. Care Inspectorate: Practice Guide To Chronologies
3. Child Protection/Adult Support and Protection Interface Guidance
4. Mental Health & Wellbeing – Support and Information Sites
5. Child Protection – Under Age Sexual Activity - Police Scotland’s Standard Operating Procedure
6. Case Management Transfer Protocol in Children & Families Social Work  
7. Equal Protection from Assault Multi-Agency Guidance for Practitioners Supporting Children and Families
8. Clinical Pathway for Children (Under 16) presenting at the Emergency Departments  (University Hospitals Ayr & Crosshouse)

Child sexual exploitation resources

For information below are a variety of CSE related documents including; practitioner guidance, Scoping Studies and Reports:

1. Community Care Inform Children: Child sexual exploitation knowledge and practice hub
2. Professor Alexis Jay - Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham 1997 - 2013 (PDF 2.4 MB)
3. Centre for Excellence for Children's Care and Protection: Scoping study
4. Scottish Government: Child Sexual Exploitation: A Guide for Health Practitioners
5. Child Sexual Exploitation - Ayrshire Multi-agency Practitioner's Guidance (PDF 332 KB)
6. Barnardo's Scotland - Public Understanding of Child Sexual Exploitation (PDF)
7. Scotland Upstream - What we all need to know to protect our children (from CSA) (PDF 5.5.MB)