Temporary changes to variations during Covid-19
Variation changes for care homes and care at home extended to April 2023
Social care continues to face challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we continue to support the care sector by adapting what we do, when needed.
To support services to provide support to a wider group of people, there will continue to be no requirement for providers to submit a variation for any care service type where:
- a care home for older people is caring for youngeradults or vice versa
- care at home services care for clients with different careneeds
- there is a change of operationalhours.
This will continue until April 2023.
In these circumstances, there is no requirement to submit a variation form. Instead, you should simply confirm in writing through eForms, using the notification ‘Changes to service delivery’.
Within the notification, you should note what the change is and confirm the service can meet people’s care and welfare needs.
The notification will not trigger an inspection but may trigger contact from the inspector to discuss the changes you have put in place.
For care homes that are supporting people on an interim basis until care at home is available in their area, there is no requirement to notify the Care Inspectorate. We will get this information from the oversight teams of homes being used in local areas.
Testing
Clarification on asymptomatic testing for social care staff (Added 1 April)
As soon as possible
The Scottish Government has advised that daily asymptomatic (work day) LFD testing will no longer be required and social care settings should revert back to their routine, baseline asymptomatic testing as soon as this is possible. This is either a weekly PCR or twice-weekly LFD (apart from adult care home staff who will continue to test with a weekly PCR and twice-weekly LFD).
This approach to testing in social care has been informed by clinical advice and is subject to ongoing review. LFD tests are extremely effective at picking up the virus in asymptomatic individuals, specifically when they are most infectious and therefore more likely to pass it on to others. This is considered proportionate while still offering sufficient protection to those at highest risk.
From Monday 18 April
The role of Covid-19 testing is changing from population wide testing, to targeted testing to support clinical care. The Scottish Government approach to testing in social care has been informed by clinical advice and is subject to ongoing review.
Based on this advice, regular asymptomatic testing will continue for parts of the health and care workforce. This is primarily in settings which are still considered high risk and/or where those using services are deemed to be at a higher risk of hospitalisation from Covid-19.
Testing will stop for staff groups in settings that are now deemed to be lower risk and/or in services which do not involve close personal care and contact or where clients are no longer at a higher risk of Covid-19.
For pathways/services continuing to test, we are moving away from using PCR testing (with the exception of adult care home staff) and asking staff to test twice weekly with LFD tests.
As stated, LFD tests are extremely effective at picking up the virus in asymptomatic individuals and specifically when they are most infectious and therefore more likely to pass it on to others.
Providers with excess LFD stock can pause their deliveries by calling the NSS helpline on 0800 008 6587.
For an overview of the social care asymptomatic pathways and changes in these pathways from Monday 18 April, click here.
Introduction of Test and Protect transition plan (Added 16 March 2022)
The Scottish Government published its Test and Protect Transition Plan. The Transition Plan set out the timelines for moving away from population-wide testing aimed at reducing transmission, towards a more targeted approach to testing. A notice explaining this can be found here.
Introduction of Orient Gene 7s LFD kits (Added 12 August 2021)
The Scottish Government has advised us that Orient Gene 7s LFD testing kits are being introduced. These new kits will begin to be distributed week beginning Monday 16 August when guidance and training materials will also be published here. All existing Innova 25s stock must be used up first. Please note you should enter the LOT number from the box when recording results on http://www.covidtestingportal.scot/. If you currently receive PCR kits, you will continue to do so and guidance remains unchanged.
Scottish Government update on testing (Added 16 July 2021)
The Scottish Government has updated its guidance on testing in care homes and adult social care as follows.
Care home staff
Care home staff – discretion to allow staff one LFD test per week at home using LFD test kits approved for self-test at home once available (most likely during August)
Coronavirus (Covid-19): adult care home lateral flow device testing
Care home visitors (friends/family)
Family/friend care home visitors - discretion to allow LFD testing at home where tests are collected through the community testing route.
Coronavirus (Covid-19): adult care home lateral flow device testing
Social care staff (excluding care homes but working in the services listed below)
Discretion to allow staff two LFD tests per week at home using LFD test kits approved for self-test at home once available (most likely during August). This is not applicable to staff who undertake PCR tests.
Coronavirus (Covid-19): social care and community based testing guidance
Social care staff
- short break/respite services
- Independent Living Fund Scotland assessors
- social workers
- learning disability settings
- women’s shelters
- personal assistants
- care inspectors
- care at home
- sheltered housing and housing with multiple occupancies
- adult day centres/adult day care services
LFD staff testing notifications guidance (Added 15 April 2021)
Following the introduction of regular LFD (Lateral Flow Device) testing for staff in a range of settings and services, we wanted to provide some clarification on which notifications to use following the outcome of tests:
LFD positive test for one or more staff – Please complete Covid-19: outbreak – notification of suspected case. Only one ‘notification of suspected case’ is needed even if several people have a positive LFD test. Staff who have a positive LFD test must then arrange to have a confirmatory PCR test.
If the outcome of the subsequent PCR test(s) is positive – Please complete Covid-19: outbreak – notification of confirmed case for each individual who has a positive PCR test.
If the outcome of the PCR test(s) is negative – Please complete Covid-19: outbreak – end of suspected case(s).
Weekly testing for agency staff deployed to care homes for adults and older people (Added 24 July 2020)
The Scottish Government has issued guidance to ensure that all staff deployed to care homes for adults and older people from staffing agencies are tested for Covid-19 prior to deployment. They request that agencies provide assurance that a process is in place for testing staff prior to deployment to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday 31 July. You can access the guidance here.
Testing staff in care homes (Added 24 July 2020)
The Scottish Government testing directorate asks care homes to complete a weekly ‘safety huddle’ template on staff testing. There have been some inconsistencies in recording of the number of staff eligible for testing and the number of staff who have declined tests. For clarity:
Recording of number of staff eligible for testing – Only staff who are at work in the care home should be included and those staff who are not at work for any reason should be excluded from this number e.g. annual leave, sick leave, days off, self-isolating or working elsewhere. Staff who have previously tested positive and have returned for work are also excluded from this number as they are currently not included in the staff testing programme
Recording of number of staff who decline testing – Only staff who are eligible for testing as defined above that have declined testing should be included. Staff who are at not work or staff who have previously tested positive should not be included in this number.
You can find further guidance and the weekly template here.
Guidance from Health Protection Scotland on Covid-19 in care homes (Added 14 July 2020)
Health Protection Scotland has published guidance for PCR testing in care homes and the management of Covid-19 PCR test positive residents and staff.
Letter to all care homes on testing from Scottish Government (Added 23 April 2020)
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport Jeane Freeman has issued a letter for care all care homes to provide further details on procedures in place for testing care home staff and residents for Covid-19. You can read the letter here.
Interim guidance on Covid-19 PCR testing in care homes (Updated 16 May 2020)
Health Protection Scotland has released Interim guidance on Covid-19 PCR testing in care homes and the management of Covid-19 PCR test positive residents and staff.
You can view the guidance here.
The Guide
The Guide provides information for community planning partnerships (CPP) about the process for the joint inspection of services for children and young people at risk of harm. This includes services for children under the age of 18 years at the point of involvement with services. It should be read in conjunction with the quality framework for children and young people in need of care and protection (QIF).
The Guide contains a number of hyperlinks. These may be to references within the guide itself or to external sources. If partnerships being inspected have any queries about any part of The Guide they should consult with their inspection lead, or with their link inspector if not being currently inspected.
The Guide - introduction
A. Background
The Guide is aimed at community planning partners (CPP) and staff participating in joint inspections. It is complementary to a quality framework for children and young people in need of care and protection (QIF) which supports joint self-evaluation and continuous improvement.
Joint inspections include representatives from Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS), Education Scotland (ES) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), as well as young inspection volunteers. They take account of the full range of work within a CPP area including services provided by social workers, health visitors, police officers, teachers and the third sector.
Whilst details of the approach to each joint inspection may vary in response to local circumstances, the core elements of the process remain consistent and comparable.
Embedded in our approach is a strong emphasis on listening to, and taking account of, the views of children and young people as well as their parents and carers. The young inspection volunteers, who have relevant experience of services and are trained and supported to be members of joint inspection teams, play a key role in this. These inspections provide public assurance on the quality and effectiveness of services for children and young people and seek to assist partnerships in continuous improvement.
The methodology for joint inspections, as well as our quality framework, is informed by the European Foundation of Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model. It looks at:
- key outcomes
- stakeholder’s needs
- delivery of services
- management
- leadership
- capacity for improvement.
Our quality framework outlined in the diagram below contains 22 quality indicators.
B. Joint inspection focus
Since July 2021, the remit of the joint inspections is to consider the effectiveness of services for children and young people at risk of harm. The inspections take account of the difference community planning partnerships are making to the lives of children and young people at risk of harm.
Looking ahead to the implementation of The Promise and the changes that will be required in both practice and scrutiny, the intention of these inspections is to achieve assurance about how children and young people at risk of harm are being kept safe. We are keen to establish how well protection processes to identify, assess and plan for the management of risk are enabling children and young people to experience sustained loving and nurturing relationships, to keep them safe from further harm and promote their wellbeing.
Evidence gathered under the quality indicators of our quality framework for children and young people in need of care and protection (QIF) will enable inspectors to address the four following aims:
- Children and young people are safer because risks have been identified early and responded to effectively.
- Children and young people’s lives improve with high quality planning and support, ensuring they experience sustained loving and nurturing relationships to keep them safe from further harm.
- Children, young people, and families are meaningfully and appropriately involved in decisions about their lives. They influence service planning, delivery and improvement.
- Collaborative strategic leadership, planning and operational management ensure high standards of service delivery.
These will, in turn, form the basis of the published report, which will include key messages, strengths and areas for development for the partnership.
In addition, we will evaluate Indicator 2.1 (Impact on children and young people) using the six point scale.
C. Joint inspection process
Our inspection activity is divided into two phases, followed by a reporting phase.
Key inspection tasks include:
- A review of children’s records
- A staff survey
- Children, young people and parent/kinship carer surveys
- Review of position statement and written evidence
- Focus groups for staff
- Meetings with children, young people and families
- Three meetings with service leaders (partnership discussions)
We then publish a report on our website and produce a video report.
For more information refer to resources and documents section.
Our joint inspections last for around 25 weeks from the point of notification to publication. The actual timespan may be longer if the period of the inspection includes school or public holidays.
There are two phases to the inspection, followed by a reporting phase, outlined in the chart below.
D. Children and young people’s participation and involvement
During the inspection it is important that we hear as much as possible from children and young people using services. Consequently, we have developed our methodology to enable their views to be prominent. We have produced a survey specifically to hear feedback from children and young people, as well as a separate survey for parents and carers.
We want to hear about how children and young people are involved in all the stages of protection process and the impact that this has had. We are interested to see how children and young people are enabled to take part in discussions about service delivery and improvement and how partners respond to their views. We want to know about information sharing and complaints processes and will be seeking assurance that these are accessible and actively promoted. We will be looking at how partners comply with the broader remit of the UNCRC and their response to children’s rights issues.
We will work closely with trained young inspection volunteers who themselves have had experience of services for children and young people. They will lead much of our direct contact with children and young people during the inspection.
We are particularly keen to hear the views of children and young people about:
- Their personal well-being and outcomes. Perceived well-being is increasingly viewed as the most important element of feedback from service users and can be used for: identifying the needs of groups; evaluating the impact of a specific intervention; or obtaining a snapshot of needs and strengths in communities.
- The staff working with them and their families. We know the importance of children and young people being enabled to experience sincere human contact and enduring relationships. We will therefore explore the extent to which they have confidence in the people who support and care for them.
- Their experiences of the processes that they have encountered – assessment, planning, intervention, review. We are interested in the experience that children and young people have of the processes which are designed to recognise and respond to child protection concerns and keep them safe and well.
- How well services have involved them. We are not only interested in the headline care standard “I am involved in all decisions about my care and support”, but also in the ways that services are involving children and young people in reviewing and improving the work that they do. We want to know how services have sought their views and hear how these views have been used to make changes as necessary.
The Guide - key terms
The Guide provides information for community planning partnerships (CPP) about the process for the joint inspection of services for children and young people at risk of harm. This includes services for children under the age of 18 years at the point of involvement with services. It should be read in conjunction with the quality framework for children and young people in need of care and protection (QIF).
This section provides definitions of some of the key terms that may be used during the course of an inspection, or that may be included in inspection reports. If partnerships being inspected have any queries about any part of The Guide they should consult with their inspection lead, or with their link inspector if not being currently inspected.
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What do we mean when we say? |
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Term |
Definition |
Source |
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Additional support needs
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When we say child or young person with additional support needs, we mean that a child or young person needs additional help to benefit from school education and reach their full potential. |
Defined in Additional Support for Learning (Scotland) Act 2004.
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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful events occuring in childhood including:
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Public Health Scotland and the Scottish ACEs Hub
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Advocacy
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Advocacy is about supporting a child to express their own needs and views and to make informed decisions on matters which influence their lives. Advocates do not make choices for children – instead, they support children and young people to make their own choices. Advocacy will most often be required where a child is engaging with a service, such as health, education, police, ir social work. |
Scottish Government publication Children's advocacy guidance.
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Aftercare
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When we say aftercare, we are referring to the legal term. Aftercare means the advice, guidance and assistance that local authorities provide to care leavers (who are not in continuing care) up until their 26th birthday. |
Defined in Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
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Care and risk management (CARM)
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Care and Risk Management (CARM) are processes which are applied when a child between the ages of 12 and 17 has been involved in behaviours which could cause serious harm to others. This includes sexual or violent behaviour which may cause serious harm. CARM processes are also applicable when an escalation of behaviours suggests that an incident of a seriously harmful nature may be imminent. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021
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Care experienced
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When we say care experienced, we mean a child, young person or adult who is, or who has been, looked after at some point in their childhood. We recognise that this term is not defined in law but is increasingly used in Scotland. |
Our definition
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Care Inspectorate |
The Care Inspectorate is the national independent regulatory body for social work and social care services in Scotland. It is also known by its legal entity, Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland. |
CI website
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Care leaver |
When we say care leaver, we are referring to the legal term. Care leaver means any young person who ceased to be looked after on, or at any time after, their 16th birthday and is no longer looked after. All looked after children may become care leavers including children looked after at home. |
Defined in Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014
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Champions Board
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Champions Boards allow young people to have direct influence within their local area and hold their corporate parents to account. They also ensure that services are tailored and responsive to the needs of care experienced young people and are sensitive to the kinds of vulnerabilities they may have as a result of their experiences before, during and after care. Young peoples’ views, opinions and aspirations are at the forefront in this forum and are paramount to its success. Champions Boards build the capacity of young people to influence change, empower them by showing confidence in their abilities and potential, and give them the platform to flourish and grow. |
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Chief officers
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When we say chief officers, we mean the chief constable and chief executives of health boards and local authorities who are responsible for ensuring that their agencies, individually and collectively, work to protect children and young people as effectively as possible. |
Defined in ‘Protecting Children and Young People: Child Protection Committee and Chief Officer responsibilities 2019’. |
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Chief Officers Groups (COG)
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The collective expression for the Local Police Commander and Chief Executives of the local authority and NHS Board in each local area. Chief Officers are individually and collectively responsible for the leadership, direction and scrutiny of their respective child protection services and their Child Protection Committees. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) |
NHS Scotland Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are multi-disciplinary teams that provide:
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Scottish Government publication Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services: national service specification |
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Child, or children and young people |
When we say child or children, we mean a person or persons up to the age of 18 (including unborn babies). We recognise that throughout Scottish legislation this term can differ, but our definition is based on Article 1 of the UNCRC. We use the term young person to mean children aged 13-17 to distinguish between this age group and younger children. |
Our definition |
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Childs network of support |
A child’s network of support is the group of practitioners, family members and carers who are collectively responsible for giving effect to a child’s plan. |
Our definition |
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Child’s plan |
When we say child’s plan, we mean the plan for an individual child that sets out desired outcomes identified in any assessments and the actions needed to achieve these outcomes. |
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Child protection |
When we say child protection, we mean the processes involved in consideration, assessment and planning of required action, together with the actions themselves, where there are concerns that a child may be at risk of harm from abuse, neglect or exploitation. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Child Protection Committees (CPC) |
Child protection committees (CPC) are the locally-based, inter-agency strategic partnership responsible for child protection policy and practice across the public, private and Third Sectors. Working on behalf of Chief Officers, its role is to provide individual and collective leadership and direction for the management of child protection services in its area. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Child protection register |
All local authorities are responsible for maintaining a central register, known as the child protection register, for all children who are the subject of an inter-agency child protection plan. This includes unborn babies. The register has no legal status. This is an administrative system for alerting practitioners that there is sufficient professional concern about a child to warrant an inter-agency child protection plan. Local authority social work services are responsible for maintaining a register of all children in their area who are subject to a child protection plan. Some authorities may choose to maintain a joint register with other authorities. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Children at risk of harm |
When we say children at risk of harm we mean the extent to which children and young people are safer because they have received the right help at the right time to reduce risks. We will consider how the partnership has prioritised nurturing relationships to ensure children and young people experience a loving and stable home environment. |
Our definition |
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Children’s services plan, or Children and young people's services plan (CSP) |
A Children’s Service Plan is a strategic plan prepared by local authorities and relevant health boards. It sets out the provision of children’s services and related services in a local authority area. |
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Chronology |
A chronology sets out key events in sequential date order, giving a summary timeline of child and family circumstances, patterns of behaviour and trends in lifestyle that may greatly assist any assessment and analysis. They are a logical, methodical and systematic means of organising, merging and helping make sense of information. They also help to highlight gaps and omitted details that require further exploration, investigation and assessment. |
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Community Planning Partnership (CPP) |
A community planning partnership is the local community planning forum for a local authority area. It is formed from representatives from key agencies and organisations from the public, community, voluntary and private sector. The partnership works together to plan and deliver services across the local authority area. |
Our previous reports |
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Confidential |
When we say confidential, we mean that we remain vigilant about how we use sensitive or personal data in line with legislation and good practice. We will not attribute comments made during inspection to individuals in our public reporting of inspections. However, all members of the inspection team have a duty to pass on concerns to a relevant service if a child or adult may be at risk of harm or being unsafe. |
Our definition |
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Education Scotland |
Education Scotland is the national scrutiny body in Scotland for inspecting and supporting quality and improvement in learning and teaching. |
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Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) |
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) is a national policy designed to make sure that all children and young people get the help that they need when they need it. |
Scottish Government Policy GIRFEC policy |
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Harm |
Harm is the impairment of the health or development of the child, including, for example, impairment suffered as a result of seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. Risk in this context refers to the probability of harm given the presence of adverse factors in a child’s life. There is no statutory definition or uniform defining criterion for significant harm, which refers to serious interruption, change or damage to a child’s physical, emotional, intellectual or behavioural health and development. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) |
Health and Social Care Partnerships, (HSCPs) are the organisations formed as part of the integration of services provided by Health Boards and Councils in Scotland under the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014. Each partnership is jointly run by the NHS and local authority. HSCPs manage community health services and create closer partnerships between health, social care and hospital-based services. |
Our previous reports and NHSGGC website |
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Health and Social Care Standards |
The Health and Social Care Standards set out what everyone should expect when using health, social care or social work services in Scotland. They seek to provide better outcomes for everyone; to ensure that individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and that the basic human rights we are all entitled to are upheld. |
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Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) |
Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) is the national independent scrutiny body which aims to promote better quality health and social care for everyone in Scotland. |
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His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) |
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS) is the national independent scrutiny body which holds powers to look into the state, effectiveness and efficiency of Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. |
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Independent advocacy |
When we say independent advocacy, we mean that the person providing advocacy is not involved in providing the services to the individual, or in any decision-making processes regarding their care. |
Our definition |
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Independent Care Review |
The Independent Care Review refers to the independent review of the care system in Scotland between 2017 and 2020 which looked at the underpinning legislation, practices, cultures and ethos. The review prioritised listening and heard over 5,500 experiences. The Care Review published seven reports in February 2020. |
Our definition |
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Initial referral discussions, inter-agency referral discussions or initial referral tripartite discussions (IRD) |
An initial referral discussion is the start of the formal process of information sharing, assessment, analysis and decision-making following reported concern about abuse or neglect of a child or young person under the age of 18 years, in relation to familial and non-familial concerns. This may include discussion of concern relating to siblings or other children within the same context, and can refer to an unborn baby that may be exposed to current or future risk. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Integration Joint Board (IJB) |
An Integration Joint Board, or IJB, plans and commissions integrated health and social care services in their areas. IJBs are local government bodies, as defined by Section 106 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. They are responsible for overseeing the local HSCP and managing social care and health services in their area. |
Scottish Government publication Integration Joint Board: roles, responsibilities and membership |
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Integration of health and social care |
Across Scotland, NHS boards and local authorities are legally required to integrate the governance, planning and resourcing of adult social care services, adult primary care and community health services and some hospital services. They also have the option to integrate children’s health and social care services as well as criminal justice services. |
Defined in Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014
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Joint Investigative Interviews (JII) |
Joint Investigative Interviews (JII) are formal interviews of children conducted by trained police officers and social workers where there is a concern that a child is a victim of, or witness to, criminal conduct, and where there is information to suggest that the child has been or is being abused or neglected, or may be at risk of significant harm. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Kinship care
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When we say a child is in kinship care, we mean a child who lives away from their parents with an adult who has a pre-existing relationship with the child (i.e. is a family member or friend). |
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Lead professional |
When we say lead professional, we mean a staff member who is identified to take on a coordinating role where concerns about wellbeing require intervention from more than one service or agency. |
Scottish Government Policy GIRFEC policy |
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Leaders |
When we say leaders, we mean chief officers and chief executives including chairs of the child protection committee, community planning partnership, integrated joint board and children's services planning group; child protection lead officer; chief social work officer; relevant heads of service in Education, Health, Police and Social Work and locality reporters’ manager; elected members and non-executive NHS board members; and any other relevant service senior leads. |
Our definition |
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Learning Review |
A Learning Review brings together agencies, individuals and families in a collective endeavour to learn from what has happened in order to improve and develop systems and practice in the future and thus better protect children and young people. The process is underpinned by the rights of children and young people as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). NB. Until the updated national guidance for child protection was published in 2021 the term ‘significant case review’ (see below) was more commonly used. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection Committees undertaking Learning Reviews 2021 |
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Looked after |
When we say looked after, we are referring to the legal term. A looked after child or young person must fall into one of the following categories:
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Multi agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) |
MARACs are regular, local meetings where information about domestic abuse victims at risk of the most serious levels of harm (including murder) is shared between representatives from a range of local agencies to inform a co-ordinated action plan to increase the safety of the victim and their children. |
Scottish Government publication Improving Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and interventions for victims of domestic abuse |
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Named person |
Named persons are a core component of the GIRFEC approach, and are a professional point of contact within universal services, if a child, young person or their parents need information, advice or help. Local arrangements and the term used to describe this role or function may vary from area to area. |
Defined in National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 |
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Parent / carer |
Whilst we recognise that the terms ‘parent’, ‘carer’ and ‘relevant person’ are all defined in legislation, when we say parent or carer, we mean this in a broader way to describe someone who takes on a parenting role. |
Our definition |
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Participation and engagement |
When we say participation and/or engagement we mean the act of ensuring the right of a child or young person to take part, and be involved actively and meaningfully throughout the processes of assessment, decision-making, actions and interventions which relate to them and which lead to tangible outcomes and improvements in their lives. |
Our definition |
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Partnerships |
When we say partnerships, we mean groups of services and organisations who have joint responsibilities for improving services for children and young people in need of care and protection. See also our definition of community planning partnerships above. |
Our definition |
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The Promise |
The Promise is the main report of Scotland’s independent care review published in 2020. It reflects the views of over 5,500 care experienced children and adults, families and the paid and unpaid workforce. It described what Scotland must do to make sure that its most vulnerable children feel loved and have the childhood they deserve. |
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Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) |
The Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration is a national body which focuses on children most at risk. Its role is to decide when a child needs to go to a Children’s Hearing, help children and families to take part in hearings and provide accommodation for hearings. |
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Scrutiny partners |
When we say scrutiny partners, we mean the scrutiny bodies that take part in joint inspections. This includes the Care Inspectorate, Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland. |
Our definition |
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Self-evaluation |
When we say self-evaluation, we mean services taking a close look at what they have done and evaluating themselves and their progress against a prescribed set of standards. It is important because it helps services to see clearly what they are doing well and where they need to make improvements. |
Our definition |
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Staff |
When we say staff, we mean people who are employed or volunteer to work directly or indirectly with children, young people and their families. |
Our definition |
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Strategic Needs Assessment |
A joint strategic needs assessment is a shared approach to assessing the needs of children and young people, with systems and processes in place to gather and analyse relevant quantitative and qualitative information, providing indicators of current and future need across different localities, ages and groups (e.g. looked after children). |
Scottish Government publication Statutory Guidance on children services planning |
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Team around the child |
A Team around the child is a single multi-agency planning process around the child’s plan with involving those practitioners who support the child and family, and are likely to be participants at a child’s plan meeting. |
Our definition |
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Third sector |
Third sector includes voluntary and community organisations including both registered charities and other organisations such as associations, self-help groups and community groups, social enterprises, mutuals and co-operatives. |
Our definition |
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Trauma informed practice |
When we say trauma informed practice we mean a strengths-based framework in children’s services grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasises physical, psychological, and emotional safety for everyone, and that creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment. |
Our definition |
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Trauma-informed workforce |
The Scottish Government ambition is for a trauma informed and trauma responsive workforce across Scotland, ensuring that services and care are delivered in ways that prevent further harm or re-traumatisation for children, young people or adults affected by psychological trauma, and supports their own unique journey of recovery. |
Scottish Government publication Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Trauma |
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Vulnerable young people's processes |
When we say vulnerable young people’s processes, we mean processes that are designed primarily to support young people by working effectively to promote, support and safeguard the well-being of young people and vulnerable adults. This is relevant for those working in situations where concerns about the wellbeing of young people particularly those working with young people transitioning between child and adult services. The vulnerabilities can be because of the young person’s own behaviours or that of others towards them placing them at risk of significant harm. |
Our definition |
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Wellbeing |
Section 96(2) of the 2014 Act describes wellbeing in terms of eight indicators. A person assessing a child or young person's wellbeing is to do so by reference to the extent to which the child or young person is or, as the case may be, would be:
These eight wellbeing indicators are sometimes known collectively by the acronym ' SHANARRI'. While each indicator is separately defined, in practice they are connected and overlapping. Taken together the eight indicators offer a holistic view of each child or young person, identifying strengths as well as barriers to growth and development. |
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Young inspection volunteers |
When we say young inspection volunteers, we mean young people (aged 18 - 26) with experience of care services who are specifically trained to support the Care Inspectorate with our inspections. They are part of the inspection team. |
Our definition |
The Guide - resources and documents
The Guide provides information for community planning partnerships (CPP) about the process for the joint inspection of services for children and young people at risk of harm. This includes services for children under the age of 18 years, at the time of their involvement with services. It should be read in conjunction with the quality framework for children and young people in need of care and protection (QIF).
This section is the single repository for documents associated with inspection activity. This not only allows partnerships preparing for an inspection to access these documents below when they need them, but also enables others to potentially make use of them when planning their own improvement activities. If partnerships being inspected have any queries about any part of The Guide they should consult with their inspection lead, or with their link inspector if not being currently inspected.
Document name
Unannounced inspections
Unannounced inspections
Update - January 2024
What we have done since our last briefing in September 2023
We have been working alongside the four areas that came forward to be part of more detailed work.
- Aberdeen city
- Dundee city
- Dumfries and Galloway
- Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
We now have staff survey responses from these four areas. We have reviewed these alongside all the evidence we gathered earlier this year from the national survey and our review of existing literature.
This has helped us develop our understanding of social work’s contribution to upholding the rights of disabled children and young people in Scotland.
We have used our findings so far to help us plan our next steps and inform the key questions we will ask children, families and staff.
Our stakeholder community has continued to be involved, helping to shape our approach to engagement activities.
Planning for our next steps is well underway in the four areas and we are grateful for all the time and effort they have already given to this review.
Next steps
We are now entering the busiest stage of our review and will be working with our four areas on the following.
In January we will be reviewing 30 children’s social work’s records in each of the areas. This will help us build our understanding of the effectiveness of assessments, plans and reviews in ensuring children benefit from the right help and the right time. These records have been sampled randomly.
In January we will ask each of the four areas to share a video and information leaflet with children and their parents or carers to inform them of our review and invite them to become involved.
Between 22 January and 29 February we will open an electronic questionnaire for children and young people to complete online. This will be one of a range of ways we will gather views directly from children and young people. The arrangements for completing the questionnaire will be shared by each of the four local authorities.
In February we will be on-site in each of the four areas. We want to gather the views of children and their parents or carers and the staff who work with them. We will meet with children wherever they are most comfortable. For some children this might be with friends or family. For others it might be alongside workers who are important to them. We hope the important people in children’s lives will help us to do this. We will work alongside staff in each of the four areas to ensure we are inclusive and respect children’s rights in our approach.
If you have any questions for the review team, they can be contacted via email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in this review.