Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 3: Identifying and responding to concerns about children 93 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 Process 3.30 An IRD must be co‑ordinated. It may be a process rather than a single event. Information must be gathered, shared and recorded at each meeting, in order to support co‑ordinated decision-making and response. 3.31 This discussion may take place in person or by telephone conference or video conference. Factors such as urgency and geography will determine how the IRD is affected. All core agencies must participate. 3.32 An IRD process is closed when a reasoned and evidenced inter-agency decision has been made and recorded about joint or single-agency assessment and action up until the point of either: • Child Protection Planning Meetings (CPPM) • decision made that a CPPM is not required 3.33 Closure may also follow a reasoned interagency decision to take no further immediate action. Priorities 3.34 IRD provides a strategic basis for authorisation for the next stage in joint or single- agency assessment. As such an IRD will give priority consideration to: • the safety and needs of the child/children involved • level of risk faced by child/children and by others in this context • evidence that a crime or offence may have been committed or may be committed against a child or any other child within the same context • legal measures that may be necessary Decisions and planning 3.35 Participants must consider how priority considerations above will lead to decisions about: • what decisions must be taken about the immediate safety and wellbeing of this child and/or other children involved? (Guidance on complex investigations may be found in Part 4. ) • is an inter-agency child protection investigation required? • is a single-agency investigation and follow-up preferred and why? • if no further investigation is required, what are the reasons for this? • is a joint investigative interview (JII) required and, if so, what are the arrangements for this? (Including who will carry it out, location of interview and in what timescales.) • is a medical examination required? If so, should this be a comprehensive medical examination, a specialist paediatric forensic examination or Joint Paediatric Forensic Examination for cases of potential non-accidental injury or suspected sexual abuse? (See below on timing considerations for medical examinations.) • is early referral to the Principal Reporter needed for consideration of grounds for compulsory measures? 3.36 If a child protection investigation occurs, a CPPM will follow within 28 calendar days of the concern being raised unless there is an IRD decision that this is not required. A senior manager within the statutory social work service may insist, on review of available information, that a CPPM is held.