Child protection is focus for new national guidelines

GREATER protection for unborn babies is among the key changes to new national guidance on child protection revealed yesterday.

Child trafficking and online safety are also included for the first time in the Scottish Government proposals, which will update guidance from 1998.

The measures have been drawn up to help social workers, police, NHS staff and other professionals working with children.

Much of the current practice has been pulled together, but among key changes to the 1998 advice is that unborn babies given a child protection plan are also placed on the child protection register.

This now happens in some parts of the country but it is not widespread and ministers want to see it extended.

The guidance also introduces more detailed advice on information sharing between agencies such as social work and the NHS.

It sets out national timescales for holding and following up on child protection case conferences, while ending the need to identify a specific category of risk when placing a child on the register.

Children’s Minister Adam Ingram said: “The protection of children and keeping them happy, healthy and safe is a priority for Scottish Government. That’s why we have introduced a range of changes.

“Central to improving child protection is ensuring that all organisations work more effectively together and have common understanding of the standard of service our children deserve.

“The new guidance sets out a national direction for how we expect children to be protected.”

Policies on online child safety are also brought into national guidance for the first time.

Child trafficking should be met with “timely and decisive” action because of the high risk of the child being moved. Officials suspect the problem is growing, particularly in Glasgow.

The draft guidance will now go out to consultation until September.