For professionals

You have the following responsibilities:

1. To be aware of Edinburgh and Lothians Child Protection Procedures and your organisation's child protection policy / procedure
2. To be alert to indicators of concern in children and young people you come into contact with
3. To respond to concerns you have about a child by acting in accordance with your organisation's procedure.

The downloads below will support you in fulfilling these responsibilities:

• Edinburgh and Lothians Child Protection Procedure 2015 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 (PDF) [3MB] (opens new window)
• National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland: Practice Insights (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Child Sexual Exploitation Guidance 2018 (PDF) [748KB] (opens new window)
• Child Sexual Exploitation Procedure 2018 (PDF) [139KB] (opens new window)
• West Lothian Care and Risk Management (CaRM) Procedure (PDF) [168KB] (opens new window)
• Information sharing 2019 (PDF) [115KB] (opens new window)
• Human Trafficking Procedure (PDF) [217KB] (opens new window)
• Children Missing from Local Authority Care (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• West Lothian Child Protection Committee Escalation/Dispute Resolution Procedure (PDF) [77KB] (opens new window)
• Professional Curiosity - A Practitioner's Guide (PDF) [45KB] (opens new window)
• NHSL Guideline Baby Bruising 2020 (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Interagency FGM Procedures 2017 (PDF) [5MB] (opens new window)
• Parental Mental Ill Health and the Impact on Parenting (PDF) [126KB] (opens new window)
• Professional Referrals to Children & Families Social Work (PDF) [49KB] (opens new window)
• National Guidance For Child Protection Committees Undertaking Learning Reviews (PDF) [1005KB] (opens new window)
• West Lothian Child Protection Committee Learning Review Procedure (PDF) [1MB] (opens new window)
• Forced Marriage Guidance 2022 (PDF) [99KB] (opens new window)
• 2022 Core Group Supervision Pilot (PDF) [90KB] (opens new window)
• West Lothian Child Protection Committee Quality Assurance Framework (PDF) [104KB] (opens new window)

7 Minute Briefings

• 7 Minute briefing Child A (PDF) [441KB] (opens new window)
• 7 Minute briefing - Professional Curiosity (PDF) [376KB] (opens new window)
• 7 Minute briefing - Neglect Themed SCR (PDF) [633KB] (opens new window)
• 7 minute Forced Marriage Briefing (PDF) [201KB] (opens new window)
• 7 minute briefing ACRA (Age of Criminal Responsibility Act 2019) (PDF) [157KB] (opens new window)
• 7 minute briefing - Learning Reviews (PDF) [142KB] (opens new window)
• 7-Minute Briefing – The Scottish Child Interviewing Model (SCIM) (PDF) [146KB] (opens new window)
• 7 minute briefings - Infants Learning Reviews (PDF) [227KB] (opens new window)
• 7 - minute briefing - Unseen men (PDF) [221KB] (opens new window)

Case Reviews

• SCR Child A (PDF) [570KB] (opens new window)
• Neglect Themed SCR (PDF) [207KB] (opens new window)
• Learning review: Taking forward findings from Initial and Significant Case Reviews (PDF) [424KB] (opens new window)
• Executive Summary - Child F (PDF) [190KB] (opens new window)
• Executive Summary - Significant Case Review for Child B (PDF) [234KB] (opens new window)

I have been asked to attend a Child Protection Case Conference. What does that involve?

Everyone invited to a Child Protection case Conference is expected to provide a report and attend the meeting. If at all possible staff should ensure that parents attending case conferences are aware of the content of your report.

More detailed information about Child Protection Case Conferences is in Section 11 of the Edinburgh and Lothians Inter-agency Child Protection Procedures 2015.

Further information on your role is in the leaflet: 

• Advice for Professionals attending Child Protection Case Conferences (PDF) [34KB] (opens new window)

You should receive a copy of this with your invitation. Please take time to consider it, especially if you have not attended a Child Protection Case Conference very often.