Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 4: Specific support needs and concerns 199 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 4.394 The nature of ‘complexity’ may be affected by environment in which abuse occurs. This may be an institution, establishment, club, group, internet-based, or a combination of scenes or locations. 4.395 Additional complexity may also relate to the length of time between the abuse and the report, or due to the extended period of time over which abuse may have occurred. 4.396 ‘Institutional abuse’ is a term which may be used to encompass abuse in an institutional setting which may include non-accidental injury, sexual abuse, neglect in delivery of care and supervision, emotional abuse, or a combination of these. 4.397 ‘Ritual abuse’ refers to the use of strategies, beliefs and ideologies that legitimise sexual and other forms of exploitation to both victims and perpetrators of organised abuse. Ritual abuse is sometimes associated with other organised abuse, including child sexual exploitation. Some victims may have experienced neglect and abuse both at home, and organised abuse in other settings. Vulnerability in one context can contribute to victimisation in another. 4.398 Child abuse linked to beliefs in witchcraft, spirit possession and other forms of the supernatural can lead to children being scapegoated and abused physically, sexually and emotionally. Fear of the supernatural is also known to be used to make children comply with being trafficked for domestic slavery or sexual exploitation. Such abuse is not confined to one faith, nationality or ethnic community. The number of known cases suggests that only a small minority of people who believe in witchcraft or spirit possession go on to abuse children. Abuse may happen at home or in another setting. 4.399 Survivors of organised and ritual abuse may only be able to report their experience many years later, with awareness often arising through ‘flashback’ memories. Survivor recovery may be further complicated if there has been involvement of family members, they have been made to recruit other victims, engage in abusive behaviour of others, or engage in the use and production of pornography. The imposition of beliefs and ideologies justifying the behaviour or the abusers may complicate investigation, support and recovery of those survivors who have been made to feel both shame and complicity. 4.400 Considerations in planning interviews. Where a child has been involved in pornography and filmed or become accustomed to their image being manipulated, recording of interviews may be particularly alarming. Local inter-agency child protection procedures should include contingency plans to deal with such cases. 4.401 Scope. Complex investigations may extend beyond the boundaries of individual services. The extent of concerns about abuse may not at first be apparent. When the factors above emerge, detailed planning is advised at strategic as well as at operational level. The purpose of such planning is to ensure a consistency of approach and clear areas of accountability, to scope investigations and the potential for these to grow, and to give initial consideration to options available. Standard IRD processes as described in Part 3 of this Guidance should underpin such planning. 4.402 A strategic management group will normally: establish the terms of reference of the investigation; provide strategic leadership for the investigation; agree the staffing of the investigation; agree such protocols as may be necessary. 4.403 Police and social work services should agree arrangements for convening planning meetings, setting up systems for sharing and updating information about the investigations progress, and co‑ordinating support. All relevant agencies and services should be involved in these discussions.