Inter-agency referral discussions (IRD)

The inter-agency referral discussion is the start of the formal process of information sharing, assessment, analysis and decision-making following reported concern to police, health or social work about abuse or neglect of a child under the age of 18 years. This may be in relation to familial and non-familial concerns. This may include discussion of concern relating to siblings or other children within the same context and can refer to an unborn baby that may be exposed to current or future risk.

This is the second year that data on interagency referral discussions have been included in these statistics. In the first year of data collection, data were provided by 31 local authority areas but were unavailable in Aberdeenshire. This year data was provided by all 32 local authority areas.

During 2024-25, 17,336 children were subject of an inter-agency referral discussion in Scotland (rate of 17.0 per 1,000 children 0-17 years). This compares to 17,901 and a rate of 17.7 per 1,000 children in 2023-24.

During 2024-25, the rate of inter-agency referrals ranged from 6.1 per 1,000 children 0-17 years in Aberdeenshire to 36.6 per 1,000 children 0-17 years in Argyll and Bute (Table 1.3a).