Children's services
DISCLAIMER
The duties listed below are currently under review and have not yet been formally signed off by the relevant professional association. The information provided is for reference only and should not be treated as final or authoritative guidance. Please verify any decisions against approved sources or seek professional advice. Updates will be published once sign-off is complete.
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Report on children's rights
Councils must publish a report showing what they’ve done - and plan to do - to respect and promote children’s rights -
Provide services to support parenting orders
Councils must make sure that the right support services are available when a court issues a parenting order. -
Oversee and safeguard the welfare of privately fostered children
Councils must check on children who are being privately fostered. -
Impose requirements relating to foster children within private fostering arrangements
Councils can set rules for how children are cared for in private fostering arrangements. -
Establish and maintain an adoption service
Councils must provide an adoption service that supports children and families at every stage of the adoption journey. -
Assess the need for adoption support services when requested
If someone asks the council for help related to adoption, the council must look into what kind of support is needed. -
Treat the child's welfare as paramount in adoption decisions
When making decisions about adoption, councils must always put the child’s wellbeing first, not just now, but throughout their life. -
Consider practical alternatives before arranging adoption
Before arranging an adoption, councils must think carefully about whether there’s a better option for the child’s care and future. -
Submit a report to the court when notified of an adoption application
When the council is told that someone has applied to adopt a child, they must send a report to the court. -
Prepare and review an adoption support plan
If the council decides that adoption support is needed, they must create a plan that sets out what help will be provided. -
Apply for Permanence Orders, including with Authority to Adopt
Councils can apply to the court for a Permanence Order when a child needs long-term care away from their birth family. -
Safeguard and promote the welfare of looked after children
When a child is under the care of the council, their safety and wellbeing must come first. -
Promote and support relationships for looked after children
Councils must help children in their care stay connected with important people in their lives. -
Assess a child’s circumstances and refer to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA)
If the council is worried that a child might need protection or extra support, they must look into the situation and gather information. -
Implement compulsory supervision orders and request reviews where appropriate
When a child is under a compulsory supervision order, the council must make sure the order is followed and the child gets the support they need. -
Prepare and review a children’s services plan every three years
Every three years, councils must prepare a children’s services plan with the aim of providing services which best safeguard, support and promote the wellbeing of children. -
Provide and promote family group decision making services
Councils must offer and promote services that help families come together to make plans for children who may be at risk of going into care. -
Publish information on parenting support services for families of children at risk of becoming looked after
Councils must offer and share information about services that help parents care for their children - especially when there’s a risk the child might need to go into care. -
Provide kinship care assistance and publish information about available support
Councils must support relatives or close family friends who care for children when their parents can’t. -
Provide kinship care allowance to kinship carers of eligible children holding a Kinship Care Order
Councils must give financial help to relatives or close family friends who have legal responsibility for a child through a Kinship Care Order. -
Prepare, publish, review, and report on a corporate parenting plan
Councils must prepare, publish, and regularly review a plan that sets out how they will fulfil their responsibilities as corporate parents to children and young people in their care. -
Provide evidence and reports in matters relating to a child’s care and upbringing
When a court is deciding what’s best for a child, it can ask the council to provide information or reports to help with that decision. -
Support adult and young carers through support plans and provision of services
Councils must support people who care for others - whether they’re adults or young carers - by offering a personalised support plan. -
Publish local carers eligibility criteria and details of support available
Councils must decide and share the rules they use to work out when carers can get support. -
Produce annual Local Child Poverty Action Reports
Councils must work with health boards to publish a Local Child Poverty Action Report showing what they’re doing to tackle child poverty in their area. -
Provide secure accommodation for young people
Councils must place a child in secure care if they meet strict legal criteria - like being at serious risk of absconding or harming themselves or others. -
Apply for and implement Child Protection Orders (CPOs)
If a child is believed to be at serious risk of harm, the council can apply to the court for a Child Protection Order. -
Safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need and support their families
Councils must help children who need extra support to stay safe, healthy, and well cared for. -
Provide continuing care to eligible care leavers
Councils must support young people who’ve been in care by offering them the chance to stay in care until they’re 21. -
Provide aftercare to young people who have left care
Councils must support young people after they leave care to help them live independently and thrive. -
Appoint a Chief Social Work Officer
Councils must appoint a senior social work professional to oversee the quality and safety of social work services. -
Consider the views of the child in all decisions
Councils must listen to what children think and feel when making decisions that affect them. -
Collaborate with children and families in assessments and support planning
Councils must work with children and their families when planning care and support. -
Use and promote wellbeing indicators in assessing and supporting children’s wellbeing
Councils must use a set of wellbeing indicators to understand how children are doing and what support they might need. -
Provide Named Person service
Councils must make sure every child and young person has someone they can go to for help or advice about their wellbeing. -
Promote children and young people’s wellbeing by enabling access to opportunities, support, and services
Councils must actively work to improve the overall wellbeing of children and young people in their area. -
Ensure children have the same protection from assault as adults
Councils must ensure that children are given the same legal protection from being hit or physically punished as adults. -
Prevent criminalisation and protect children under 12
Councils have a duty to prevent criminalisation and focus on care and early intervention for children under the age of 12. -
Safeguard children’s welfare in matrimonial proceedings
Councils have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children involved in matrimonial proceedings, such as divorce or separation cases. -
Prepare, publish, review, and consult on a local carer strategy
Councils and health boards must work together to create and share a plan for how they will support carers in their area. -
Provide Educational Maintenance Grants (EMGs) to former looked after young people
Councils must provide Educational Maintenance Grants (EMGs) to former looked-after young people. -
Assess and provide aftercare support for care-experienced young adults
Councils must assess and provide aftercare support for care-experienced young adults. -
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Coordinate and deliver local domestic abuse support
Councils are responsible for organising and providing help for people affected by domestic abuse within their area. -
Detain young persons under 18 when ordered by the court
If a court decides that a young person under 18 must be detained, the council must make sure they are placed somewhere safe. -
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Provide youth justice support
Councils must support children and young people involved in offending through care, supervision, and interventions. -
Support safeguarding and child protection policies in schools
Councils must make sure schools follow strong safeguarding and child protection policies to keep children safe from harm. -
Provide support to looked after children
Councils must provide extra support to children and young people who are looked after - meaning they are in the care of the local authority, such as in foster care, residential care, or living at home under supervision. -
Safeguard and promote the welfare of children in residential accommodation for school attendance
If a child or young person is provided with residential accommodation so they can attend school, the council (education authority) must make sure the child’s welfare is protected and promoted.