Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 3: Identifying and responding to concerns about children 107 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 Changes to legislation and guidance during COVID-19 3.109 The Coronavirus (Scotland) Acts 2020 (Schedule 3, Part 1) provide for temporary and limited flexibility in relation to child assessment orders, child protection orders, Compulsory Supervision Orders, and place of safety placements. Guidance on the Act also outlines the limits of these flexibilities; and aspects of the organisation of children’s hearings, including provision for remote participation, the need for which may persist beyond the early phases of the pandemic for some children and families, for infection control reasons (and long-term changes to the rules of procedure for children’s hearings also allows remote participation where this is requested, in some circumstances, from July 2021). In those instances when the use of the Coronavirus legislation appears necessary, this must be consistent with protecting the safety, rights and best interests of the child. Justification for use must be recorded. The need for implementation and/ or revision of these measures will be kept under regular review by Scottish Ministers. Therefore guidance in the next section on emergency measures must be considered in the light of the current status of this legislation.