Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 2A: Roles and responsibilities for child protection 57 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 Adult healthcare providers 2.122 All health staff providing services to adults have a duty of care to children and young people, and must work to consider and identify their needs. Providers of adult health services must be able to identify when a child is or at risk of significant harm, and must raise their concerns in line with local policy. Other health services 2.123 All staff working in the NHS may identify child protection concerns. Child protection concerns must be raised in line with local policy. All NHS Boards have specialist staff who can advise and support staff in relation to child protection. References • GMC guidance (2018) Protecting children and young people: The responsibilities of all doctors • GMC Ethical Guidance (2018) https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical- guidance-for-doctors • NMC The Code (2015) • Nice Clinical Guidance (2017) Child maltreatment: when to suspect maltreatment in under 18s https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg89 • Nursing and Midwifery Council (2019) Standards of Proficiency for Midwives • RCGP Safeguarding Toolkit (2018) https://www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/ resources/toolkits/child-safeguarding-toolkit.aspx • RCPCH Child Protection Companion 2nd Edition https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/ child-protection-companion-about • Scottish Government (2017) The Best Start: A Five-Year Forward Plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care in Scotland. https://www.gov.scot/publications/best-s tart-five- year-forward-plan-maternity-neonatal-care-scotland-9781786527646/ • Scottish Government/Scottish Executive Nurse Directors (2018) Transforming Nursing, Midwifery and Health Professions’ (NMaHP) Roles: Pushing the boundaries to meet health and social care needs in Scotland. Paper 4: The school nursing role in integrated community nursing teams. https://www.gov.scot/publications/school- nursing-role-integrated-community-nursing-teams/ Local authority children and families social work 2.124 Local authorities have a duty to promote, support and safeguard the wellbeing of all children in need in their area, and, insofar as is consistent with that duty, to promote the upbringing of children by their families by providing a range and level of services appropriate to children’s welfare and wellbeing needs. 2.125 Each child has the right to protection from all forms of abuse, neglect or exploitation. In child protection processes local authorities will ensure that each child’s views are taken into account in decisions that affect their lives. The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration. 2.126 The local authority must make all necessary inquiries into the child’s circumstances if it appears that the child is in need of protection, guidance, treatment or control, and if it might be necessary for a Compulsory Supervision Order to be made in relation to the child. The local authority must give the Principal Reporter any information they have about the child.