Policy - Latest
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Right First Time: a practical guide for public authorities to decision-making and the law - second edition
Right First Time is a practical guide for public authorities in Scotland to decision-making and the law.
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Supporting children and young people who may have experienced child sexual abuse - clinical pathway: consultation analysis
An analysis of the responses to the consultation on the draft Clinical Pathway for healthcare professionals working to support children and young people who may have experienced child sexual abuse.
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Can Scotland be Brave – Incorporating UNCRC Article 12 in practice
This project investigated how well practitioners, understood and implemented the full obligations of Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (‘UNCRC’).
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Advance Payment Scheme - supporting documents: guidance
Guidance for people applying to the Advance Payment Scheme about how to obtain ‘a supporting document’ – some kind of ‘record’ which shows you spent time in care in Scotland as a child.
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Supporting children and young people who may have experienced child sexual abuse: clinical pathway for healthcare professionals
Guidance to ensure a consistent approach to the provision of healthcare and forensic medical examination services for children and young people under 16 (or up to 18 for young people with vulnerabilities and additional support needs) who may have experienced sexual abuse.
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Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019: promotional materials
Promotional materials to support the introduction of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019.
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Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act factsheet: easy read version
Physical punishment and physical discipline: how the law is changing (easy read version).
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Defence to assault on children removed
Equal Protection from Assault Act comes into force.
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National guidance for child protection - revised: consultation
Consultation on a revised version of the National Guidance for Child Protection to ensure it is consistent with the legislative and policy framework and current practice developments. The current version of the National Guidance for Child Protection was published in 2014.
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Physical punishment and discipline of children: how the law is changing
Explains changes to the law covering the physical punishment and discipline of children, such as smacking.
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Financial redress for survivors of child abuse in care: frequently asked questions
Further information on the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill in response to questions from survivors and others.
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UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
Bill to respect, protect and fulfil children’s rights.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: equalities impact assessment
Impact assessment for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: SEA
This Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) sets out that it was not necessary to conduct a full SEA for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill, as the Bill does not have a significant environmental impact.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: CRWIA
Children's rights and wellbeing impact assessment for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: Fairer Scotland Duty assessment
Fairer Scotland Duty assessment for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: island communities impact assessment
Impact assessment for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: future proofing legislation
Impact assessment for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: data protection impact assessment
Impact assessment for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill in relation to the use of personal data.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: human rights impact assessment
Impact assessment for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
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Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill: BRIA
Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) for the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill.
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Redress for Survivors Bill published
Legislation for survivors of historical child abuse in care in Scotland.
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Redress for abuse in care
More than 400 advance payments made.
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National action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation: final report
Sets out the range of achievements and activity delivered since 2016 to prevent and tackle child sexual exploitation.
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Supporting adult survivors of in care childhood abuse
Additional funding to extend services.
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Raising the age of referral: consultation - easy read version
Easy read version of the consultation seeking views on raising the age a young person can be referred to a children’s hearing.
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Raising the age of referral: consultation
Consultation seeking views on raising the age a young person can be referred to a children’s hearing.
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Vulnerable children report: 15 May 2020
This is the second report from the Scottish Government with SOLACE and other partners, on the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on children and families, and on the ways that services for children have responded. It identifies critical issues for services for children going forward.
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Help for childhood abuse victims
Survivor support still available.
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Advocacy in the children's hearings system - national practice model: guidance
National practice model for children's advocacy in the children’s hearings system.
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Financial redress for historical child abuse in care: consultation analysis
Analysis of responses to the pre-legislative consultation on the detailed design of a statutory redress scheme for historical child abuse in care.
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Financial redress for historical child abuse in care consultation analysis: summary
Summary of the analysis of responses to the pre-legislative consultation on the detailed design of a statutory redress scheme for historical child abuse in care.
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600 adoption matches made
Milestone reached as adoption support website launched.
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Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services: national service specification
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) NHS Scotland national service specification outlining provisions young people and their families can expect from the NHS.
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Children's services planning: guidance
Updated guidance (2020) for local authorities and health boards on exercising the functions conferred by Part 3 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
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Age threshold of payments for survivors of childhood abuse lowered
Review of Advance Payment Scheme.
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Financial redress for survivors of historical child abuse in care: review of the Advance Payment Scheme
This review of the Advance Payment Scheme considered a range of issues over the first five months of the scheme’s operation.
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Mental health in schools
Dedicated counselling service for pupils.
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Children's services planning guidance: consultation response
Our response to the consultation analysis report on the current statutory guidance which supports Part 3 (Children's Services Planning) of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.
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Protecting children: consultation analysis
This report analyses the responses to the consultation asking for views on proposals to modernise the criminal offence of child cruelty, set out in section 12 of the Children and Young Persons (Scotland) Act 1937. We also asked for views on whether the definition of a ‘position of trust’ in section 42-45 of the Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009 should be extended.
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Effectiveness of children's services planning guidance: consultation analysis
Analytical report for the consultation on children services planning guidance.
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Consultation on financial redress
Views sought to shape legislation.
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Financial redress for historical child abuse: consultation
This consultation seeks views on the detailed design of a statutory financial redress scheme in Scotland, scheme administration issues, and views on financial redress as part of a package of wider reparations for survivors of historical child abuse in care.
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Financial redress for historical child abuse: consultation summary
This consultation seeks views on the detailed design of a statutory financial redress scheme in Scotland, scheme administration issues, and views on financial redress as part of a package of wider reparations for survivors of historical child abuse in care.
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Child trafficking guardians: consultation
A consultation on the implementation of Section 11 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015: the appointment and role of independent child trafficking guardians.
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Update on Advance Payment Scheme
Payments made to survivors of abuse in care over 70.
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Protection of vulnerable groups and the disclosure of criminal information: our response to consultation
Scottish Government response to the consultation report on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups and Disclosure of Criminal Information.
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Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill: equality impact assessment
Equality impact assessment (EQIA) for the new Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill.
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Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment
Child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) for the new Female Genital Mutilation (Protection and Guidance) (Scotland) Bill.
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Improving the health response to child sexual abuse
Consultation on Scotland’s first clinical pathway.
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Redress for historical abuse survivors
Advance payment scheme opens.
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Children's social work statistics 2017-2018
The latest data on children and young people looked after, on the child protection register and in secure care.
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Protecting children and young people: Child Protection Committee and Chief Officer responsibilities
Guidance outlining Child Protection Committee and Chief Officer responsibilities for protecting children and young people.
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Beyond survival: resource for organisations working with child abuse survivors
This toolkit provides resources to enable survivor support organisations become more sustainable.
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Protection of Vulnerable Groups and Disclosure of Criminal Information: consultation summary report
The simplified summary report on responses to the recent consultation on proposals for change to the disclosure regime in Scotland.
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Timescale for child abuse inquiry extended
Inquiry given more time to ensure survivors’ voices are heard.
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Tackling child neglect in Scotland 2: rapid review of intervention literature
A rapid review of the literature relating to programmes, approaches and interventions with children in Scotland who may be experiencing neglect, undertaken by academics at the University of Stirling.
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Tackling child neglect in Scotland 3: rapid review of legislation and policy
A rapid review of legislation and policy with a particular focus on child neglect in Scotland, conducted by academics at the University of Stirling.
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Review of disclosure law
Changes proposed for those working with vulnerable people.
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Protecting Scotland's Children National Policy and Child Abuse Prevention Activity
These documents set out the Scottish Government's vision of how we protect Scotland’s children and young people.
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Meeting the needs of young people
Improved rights for children with additional support needs.
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Named person panel
Independent advice on information sharing.
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Legal milestone for child abuse victims
End to automatic time-bar against civil actions for childhood abuse.
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Ministers visit Icelandic children's house
Promoting child-friendly justice.
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Protecting children from abuse
New report shows gaps in support
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Child Protection Improvement Programme: equality impact assessment record
Record of assessments of the Child Protection Improvement Programme, testing how the programme would affect our aims for equality.
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Child Protection Improvement Programme: child rights and wellbeing impact assessment
Assessment of how the Child Protection Improvement Programme affects the rights and wellbeing of children and young people.
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Significant Case Review
Review into death of Liam Fee
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Civil action in child abuse cases
Debate on removing the three year time bar to seeking justice.
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Protecting children online
National action plan on internet safety.
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Internet safety for children and young people: national action plan
Refreshed action plan on internet safety for children and young people to ensure appropriate training, support and information is in place.
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Child sexual exploitation: a guide for health practitioners
Guidelines for health practitioners on identifying and responding to a child or young person who may be at risk of or affected by sexual exploitation.
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Named Person service
Legislation planned to support children and their families.
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New law to protect children
Emotional abuse and neglect will be a criminal offence.
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Child Protection Improvement Programme report
Report on the key messages and next steps of the Child Protection Improvement Programme.
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Child Protection Improvement Programme: ministerial statement
Minister for Childcare and Early Years Mark McDonald MSP delivers a speech on improving Scotland's child protection systems.
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Child abuse inquiry
Glenn Houston resigns from panel
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Removing time-bar from civil actions against child abuse
Clarification to Inquiry remit and redress consultation as Limitation Bill lodged.
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Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry: update on issues, November 2016
Deputy First Minister John Swinney MSP delivers a speech to Scottish Parliament on the progress of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.
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Child sexual exploitation: definition and practitioner briefing paper
Key considerations that should inform all professionals’ and agencies' interpretations of their responsibilities in relation to child sexual exploitation.
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Child protection systems review: terms of reference
Terms of reference for our review of child protection committees, registers and case conferences, and initial and significant case reviews.
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National action plan to tackle child sexual exploitation: progress report
Update on progress since the publication of both the national action plan and 'Safeguarding Scotland’s vulnerable children from child abuse'.
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Children's advocacy guidance
Guidance on how to support children and young people to make informed decisions on matters which influence their lives.
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National guidance for child protection in Scotland: protecting disabled children from abuse and neglect
Notes for all practitioners including those working in: children and family social work; health; education; residential care; early years; youth services; youth justice; police; independent and third sector; and adult services who might be supporting parents with disabled children or involved in the transition between child and adult services.
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National guidance for child protection in Scotland
Provides a framework for agencies and practitioners at local level to agree processes for working together to safeguard and promote child wellbeing.
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National Risk Framework to Support the Assessment of Children and Young People
The document is a national risk assessment 'toolkit' for child protection to support practioners in identifying and acting on child protection risks in children and young people.