Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 2B: Approach to multi-agency assessment in child protection 84 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 Developments 2.276 Strategic improvements are informed by data analysis. A Minimum Dataset for Child Protection Committees has been developed as part of the Child Protection Improvement Programme. The aims are to deliver robust data sets to support child protection improvement, to develop a national resource for advice on using child protection data for local planning and service development, and expanded analytical capacity. Child Protection Committees’ responsibilities involve collation and analysis of data and evidence to inform improvement planning and the Child Protection National Minimum Dataset 2020 is a ‘package’ of data collation, presentation, analysis, reporting and scrutiny supports which will assist in informing these processes. 2.277 Joint Investigative Interviewing (JII) Guidance and Training. Police Scotland and Social Work Scotland have worked with the Scottish Government to respond to the recommendations of the Evidence and Procedure Review t o improve the quality and consistency of Joint Investigative Interviews (JIIs) of children. Revised guidance (which will become statutory on publication) and the development of the new Scottish Child Interview Model have been informed by international research. The model encapsulates an approach to investigative interviewing of children which is both trauma-informed and achieves best evidence through more robust planning and interview techniques. The aim is that JII statements can be used as Evidence in Chief, removing the need for children to give evidence in court and reducing trauma for child victims and witnesses. Evaluation and learning from pilots of the new Scottish model will inform national implementation beyond 2020. 2.278 Significant Case Reviews/Learning Reviews. As part of the Child Protection Improvement Plan, the approach to Significant Case Reviews has been revised, taking account of Care Inspectorate analysis, UK and international findings. There is a new focus on accessibility and applicability. Key objectives are to ensure that essential recommendations translate into effective learning to prevent recurrence of the most serious child protection events. To this end these reports will now be called Learning Reviews. (National Guidance for Child Protection Committees Undertaking Learning Reviews) 2.279 Child Participation in Child Protection Processes. A Child Protection Committees Self-Evaluation is an example of analysis which is comparative and practical, describing progress and challenges in the way practitioners and managers have worked to ensure children’s rights and GIRFEC principles have been applied in child protection processes. Summary. Elements within multi-agency child protection assessment outlined in this section are reduced to a seven-point summary (Figure 3) .