FOI Request - Child Abuse Policy
Request 101002916433
1. What is the burden of proof in child abuse cases? are there any specific guidelines that need to be followed or is this worked on probability of the reporters beliefs?
2. Do child social services follow the same guidelines or process when investigating child abuse when the child is in the care of the local authority as it does when a child is still living with their parent/s?
3. How many complaints have been raised each year since 2010 in regards to Cafcass or other child experts such as psychologists, psychiatrists. This can be either calendar or financial year, whichever you use for statistics.
4. Do child social services do background checks on the experts they use in cases such as criminal convictions, credentials etc.
5. Does the family court use the same judge throughout cases in family court or can the judge change during cases? Are there any statistics on this for each year since 2010 in either calendar or financial period?
6. Are there any statistics for non return of children by non-residential parent to residential parent for each year since 2010 by either calendar or financial year? if so, are these statistics separated by male / female parent not returning child from contact?
7. Does the gender of the parent making a custody application have any bearing on the outcome of the custody dispute? Is there any statistics or evidence to back this up? Again since 2010 by either calendar or financial year.
8. Does the distance or interim decision in custody disputes affect the outcome of the case? Again if there are any statistics on this please use statistics since 2010 per calendar or financial year.
9. How many allegations made to child social services are upheld without a full investigation or professional proof? How many are immediately investigated. Any statistics from 2010 by calendar or financial year are appreciated.
10. How often, if at all do child social services close a case without investigating? statistics if available since 2010 by calendar or financial year.
11. At what age should an adult explain death to a child and under what circumstances would this be deemed appropriate? Any reports of evidence of this would be lovely.
12. If a male has a pattern of behaviour of becoming involved with single mum's with children or moving in with a female with children within 3 months of first meeting her would child social services regard this as a risk factor? if so, how and are there any reports or documents to back this up?
Response 24-11-2021
1) In accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can confirm that the requested information is not held.
Under our duty to be helpful when answering Freedom of Information enquiries, we can advise that the Council follows the relevant 2014 guidance and is exploring the 2021 guidance for implementation (see below):
The National Guidance for Child Protection 2014:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-guidance-child-protection-scotland/
National Guidance for Child Protection 2021:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-guidance-child-protection-scotland-2021/documents
2) Yes. Under our duty to be helpful when answering Freedom of Information enquiries, we can advise that Council has utilised national guidance to form the basis of the approach in the Foster Carer Handbook.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/managing-allegations-against-foster-carers-approved-kinship-carers-agencies-respond/
Moray Council Foster Carer Handbook:
http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_40012.html
3) In accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can confirm that the information is not held.
4)Yes. Under our duty to be helpful when answering Freedom of Information enquiries, we can advise that the Council follows Procurement Procedures for the employment of commissioned services:
http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file109615.pdf
5 - 12) In accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can confirm that the information is not held.