Information for Children and About Child Protection Investigations

RememberYou have a right to be safe.You have a right to be listened to andtaken seriously.If you don’t understand don’t be afraid toask.Children are rarely taken away from theirhome.You can use the space below and the next pageto make notes to discuss with the people youknow and trust.Questions I have----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Questions I have (continued)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------My worries at the moment------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Social Work DepartmentComhairle nan Eilean SiarBalivanichIsle of BenbeculaHS7 5LATel: 01870 604880Social Work DepartmentComhairle nan Eilean SiarSandwick RoadStornowayIsle of LewisHS1 2BWTel: 01851 822764Social Work DepartmentComhairle nan Eilean SiarCastlebayIsle of BarraHS9 5XDTel: 01871 810431Childline0800 11 11Social Work Out of Hours01851 701702This and further informationleaflets available at:www.cne-siar.gov.uk/ChildProtectionCommitteeInformation forChildren andYoung PeopleAbout ChildProtectionInvestigations

IntroductionAll children have the right to be kept safe andlooked after properly. It is everyone’s job tomake sure this happens. Anyone who isworried about you should tell a teacher, healthvisitor, family doctor, school nurse, socialworker or police officer. Many people such asparents, grandparents or children themselvesreport worries about the care children get.This leaflet explains what will happen ifsomeone has reported that they are worriedabout you.Why are adults worried about you?Adults may worry about you if they think youare being harmed in any way at all. Examplesof harm would be if: someone hit, kicked, punched, burned orscalded you; someone spoke to you inappropriately in asexual way (face to face, on a mobilephone or computer); someone kissed or touched you in a waythat makes you feel uncomfortable; someone constantly criticised or ignoredyou, or made you feel frightened orunhappy a lot of the time; or you are living in the same house asanother person who has hurt a child in thepast, or you see a lot of the person.Adults may also worry if:you are not being properly fed, clothed, orkept clean;you are being left on your own orare asked to look after younger children;oryour health is not being looked afterproperly and you are not being taken to adoctor, dentist or hospital when youshould.Sometimes children or young people behave inways that might make an adult think they werebeing harmed, although they do not know forcertain.What happens next?If someone is seriously worried about you theywill tell a social worker or police officer and itis their job to make sure you are safe andlooked after properly. Most of the time theywill want to meet the person looking after youfirst to talk about:their worries about you;your safety; andarranging to meet you to ask you whatyou think about the worries.They will also want to ask for permission tospeak to you and adults who know you well,such as other members of your family, yourteacher, doctor or school nurse.Who will talk to you?A social worker or police officer (or sometimesboth) will want to speak to you and theperson looking after you together. You couldalso meet with them:on your own; orwith another adult you know and trust.This could be with a relative, your teacher orsomeone else who knows you well.What you and other people say will be writtendown by the social worker or police officerand the notes will be kept on your file. Youcan ask to see them.Where will this happen?At homeIn school In a room in the local social workdepartment or police station Other suitable local venues.Workers know you and your family may beworried and upset. They will try to help youand your family during this time. The workerswill want to understand what your life is like,and to check if you are safe and looked afterproperly.Will I be taken away from home?Children are usually best looked after by theirown family. Social workers will work withyour family to keep you at home, if possible.Your family needs to be able to keep you safeand look after you properly. If this is not possible,you may need to be looked after awayfrom home. The workers will listen to whatyou think before they decide what should happen.If there is a member of your family whocan look after you, for example a grandparent,aunt or uncle, they may be asked to do so. Ifthis is not possible, a foster carer will lookafter you in their home. There is also a Children’sHome in Stornoway.If you have to live away from home the aimwould be: to keep you safe; to work with everyone concerned to getyou back home as soon as possible is thatis what is best for you; and to help the person who usually looks afteryou do so properly, so you can go home asquickly as possible, if that is what is bestfor you.What will happen next?When the social worker has spoken to everyoneinvolved, they will speak to you and theperson looking after you to talk about whatwill happen next. This could be: No further action; Offering you and the person looking afteryou help to keep you safe; orA meeting called a child protection case conferenceto plan what is needed to keep yousafe and looked after properly.There are separate leaflets to tell you aboutcase conferences and other child protectionissues. All leaflets can be found atwww.cne-siar.gov.uk/ChildProtectionCommitteeWhere can I get help?If you think you need advice, you can speakto:Your guidance teacher; Or other people you know and trust; Childline (phone: 0800 1111, calls arefree); or Your local Social Work Department (seeoverleaf). Family member or friend you have a closerelationship with.