Health Services

Child Protection

IntroductionGet It Done Right 

'All children and young people in Scotland have the right to be cared for and protected from harm and to grow up in a safe environment in which their rights and needs are respected. The welfare of children is paramount'

Scottish Executive 2004.

NHS Forth Valley have a strong commitment to work with all relevant partner agencies to maximise children and young people's full potential. We will work together to protect them from physical or emotional harm. We will ensure that Child Protection is a high priority at all levels across our organisation. . We believe that all children should be:

Indicators of Well-being diagram (word document, 126k)

Across Forth Valley all agencies work together

Social Work, Health, Police, Education and Voluntary Services work together to help keep children and young people safe and to ensure they reach their potential.

We take action to make sure children and young people are protected by;

Everyone is responsible

All NHS staff have a duty to act in the best interest of children.

There is a Child Protection Department of specially trained staff who provide support and deliver training to frontline staff across NHS Forth Valley.

Each Local Authority Area has a Child Protection Committee which leads on the development of services to protect children.

In NHS Forth Valley there is the Child Protection Action Group which has representatives from across health services and local authorities which leads on the development of child protection strategy, policy and procedures in the organisation.

Confidentiality and information sharing

Patient information is confidential and if health workers have to share information for the best care to be given they ask the child or their parents for permission before doing so. However there are exceptions to this rule and information is shared without consent if:

Concerns about Child Welfare

Children can come to harm because of

What to do if you are worried that a child may be at risk

You are concerned

Children rarely tell if they are being abused. However there may been signs which make you concerned and may be an indication of a child being abused or neglected. For example, you may notice one or more of these:

OR

A Child tells you

If a child discloses that they are being abuse (physically, sexually or emotionally)

Ask yourself these questions:

1. Is the child in immediate danger?
If yes you should call the police as they can take a child to a place of safety.

2. Does the child need medical treatment?
If so they may need to go to a GP or A&E department.

3. Are the parents able to protect the child and meet all their needs?
If not then you should contact the local social work department to let assess the situation and put support systems in place for the children.

You must act to safeguard a child or young person by contacting any of the following as appropriate, all of whom will advise you about what you should do to safeguard the child:

If you have concerns please contact: 

Out of Hours Social Work Services  01786 470500 (after 5pm and at weekends) 
   

Local Social Work departments 

  
Stirling  01786 471177  
Clackmannanshire  01259 225000 
Falkirk   

 Bo'ness

 01506 778668 
 Camelon 01324 501200 
 Denny 01324 504160 
 Grahamston 01324 506595 
 Grangemouth 01324 504343 
 Laurieston 01324 590300 
 Stenhousemuir 01324 503503 
 Brockville 01324 506400 
   

Other

  
Police Family Unit   01324 574948 
   
Reporter to the Children's Hearing   
Falkirk 01324 626996 
Stirling   01786 476400 

 

Useful Links

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