Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 3: Identifying and responding to concerns about children 98 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 Support and Evaluation 3.62 To undertake their role, Joint Investigative Interviewers require: • support • quality assurance • evaluation 3.63 Multi-agency evaluation of joint investigative interviewing practice should form an integral part of these arrangements. The relationship between support and evaluation is one which must be carefully managed. 3.64 National Guidance on Joint Investigative Interviewing: current guidance on Joint Investigative Interviewing of Child Witnesses in Scotland (2011) is under revision in line with the Scottish Child Interview Model, as described below. Scottish Child Interview Model 3.65 The Scottish Child Interview Model (SCIM) is a new approach to JII which is being piloted in Scotland (2021). It is designed to minimise re-traumatisation and keep the needs and rights of child victims and witnesses at the centre of the process and in so doing, achieve pre-recorded evidence from the child that is of high quality. This can be used as Evidence in Chief in court for criminal and children’s hearings processes. 3.66 The SCIM has five connected components: strategy, planning, action, outcomes and support and evaluation. Interviewers are trained in forensic interviews of children. Local areas will require quality assurance arrangements to govern the application of the Scottish Child Interview Model. For enquiries about the SCIM and training programme, contact: JointInterviewProject@scotland.pnn.police.uk. 3.67 A practice insight on this topic has been drafted to illustrate and explain key practice considerations, offer a resource, prompt reflection and signpost selected sources. It can be found in the Practice Insights supporting document alongside this Guidance.