INTERAGENCY REFERRAL DISCUSSION (IRD)

PROTOCOL BETWEEN

Fife Council Education and Children Services

Police Scotland Fife Division

NHS Fife/Health and Social Care Partnership

Approved by CPC 23.08.18Due for Review 23.08.20

CONTENTS Page

Introduction 03

Definition 03

Core Agency Participants 04

Interagency Referral Discussion (IRD) Process 05

Information sharing 05

IRD Decision Making 07

Completion 09

Feedback 09

Conclusion 10

Appendices 11

2 | P a g e

1.0 Introduction

1.1 This IRD protocol is underpinned by relevant legislative context, which is set out in (Appendix 1). Pivotal is the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 which places a statutory duty on local authorities and health boards to promote, support and safeguard the wellbeing of all children in their area.

1.2 Parts 4, 5* and 18 of the Act make elements of the current Scottish Government Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) policy a statutory obligation. Wellbeing is describes in terms of eight indicators at times these are referred to as the SHANARRI indicators. A person assessing a child or young person’s wellbeing is to consider the extent to which the child is Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible and Included. (*Parts 4 and 5 are subject to a legislative review, however the GIRFEC principles are upheld)

1.3 In terms of child protection safety is the priority: every child or young person has the right to feel and be safe and protected from:

Any form of physical, sexual or emotional harm or exploitation, including forced marriage, female genital mutilation, trafficking and cyber abuse;

Neglect, faltering growth, fabricated or induced illness.

1.4 Where it is suspected that a child has suffered/ is suffering/ is at risk of harm or abuse and is in need of care and protection, practitioners should raise their concerns through their established Child Protection processes to the Social Work Contact Centre and/or Police Scotland.

1.5.1 The public also has a responsibility to report their concerns and referral systems must be accessible and responsive to the public.

1.5.2 Practitioners working with children must share information when a child is at risk from harm, abuse or neglect. Further Information sharing Advice and Guidance can be found at www.fifechildprotection.org.uk under Local Publications. Staff should also refer to their own agency guidance on information sharing. If staff are unsure they should seek advice within their own agency or contact social work or police directly. Under certain circumstances this can include pre-IRD discussions or professional meetings to inform decision making

2.0 Definition

2.1 Within the context of child protection an Interagency Referral Discussion (IRD) is the first stage in the process of joint information sharing, assessment and decision making about risk to children and, as such, is the central mechanism to coordinate interagency child protection processes.

3 | P a g e

2.2 This protocol sets out the agreed interagency procedures which results in an IRD once a child protection concern has been raised to Social Work Service and/or Police Scotland.

An IRD is raised if a child is suspected to be at risk of significant an IRD may also be raised if a child has been witness to a significant event such as a death, or if sibling of a Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy/Children (SUDI/SUDIC). The safety and needs of the child and all child protection concerns will be a priority and these will be handled with professionalism and sensitivity.

An IRD will always be raised in cases of Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy/Children (SUDI/SUDIC)

An IRD would not routinely be carried out for a child suspect unless information suggests the child is being abused, neglected or at risk of significant harm.

An IRD may be carried out if peer on peer abuse. This is at the discretion of social work depending on age, coercion etc

2.3 When a child concern has been raised to the Social Work Contact Centre/Social Work Area Team and it has been assessed that it meets the criteria for an IRD then they will complete an IRD Form. The IRD form should then be sent immediately to the Social Work Child Protection Team.

2.4 When a child concern is raised to Police Scotland and it has been assessed that it meets the criteria for IRD, then the IRD form will always be generated by the Child Abuse Investigations Team.

2.5 When a child concern has been raised to a Consultant Paediatrician and it has been assessed that it meets the criteria for an IRD then they will raise a request for a teleconference IRD with Police and Social Work.

2.6 In practice, an IRD is not a single event, but rather a series of discussions between Core Agencies and any other service and/or agency which may be involved with the child and/or have relevant information relating to that child. The process may also include an Extended IRD or a Strategy meeting (Appendix 2)

3.0 Core agency IRD participants

3.1 In Fife the four core participants are:

Fife Council Social Work Child Protection Team Police Scotland Fife Division Child Abuse Investigations Team NHS Fife/HSCP Child Protection Team Education Service

4 | P a g e

3.2 An IRD meeting is primarily a daily face to face discussion with the four core agencies, and is held at Police Scotland Fife Divisional HQ, Monday to Friday mornings.

3.3 Where an immediate Joint Investigative response is required a teleconference will take place. Notification to IRD core agency participants who are unavailable will be made as soon as practically possible.

3.4 All partners work in accordance with agreed single agency Roles & Responsibilities (Appendix 3)

3.5 Responsibility for chairing the IRD is rotated across the four core partners on a weekly basis.

4.0 Inter-agency Referral Discussion (IRD) process

4.1 The receiving agency will disseminate the IRD Form to:

NHS Fife Child Protection Team Education Services Social Work Child Protection Team Police Child Abuse Investigations Team

4.2 IRD participants will then gather relevant and proportionate information within their own agency. Health and Education will identify and notify the Named Person Service for the child via agreed internal processes within each agency.

4.3 The information gathered will be shared at the IRD meeting. The information exchange will support decisions made by the IRD participants in relation to risk assessments, safety planning, Joint Interviewing and Medicals. The IRD participants will also consider any risks to the subject child/ren, and where relevant any other child/ren. In situations of peer on peer abuse where a child may be a suspect their needs and safety will also be considered. The IRD decision will also identify key workers around the child and their specific roles and responsibilities.

5.0 Age criteria

5.1 The age criteria for a child to be discussed at IRD meetings is any child under 16 years, any young person aged 16 to 18 years where compulsory measures are in place, or the concerns falls under CSE, forced marriage, trafficking and FGM.

5.2 Concerns relating to young people between the ages of 16 to 18 years, who do not meet the above criteria, but are still in education, should be referred by following existing procedures using the Fife Multi-Agency Notification of Child Concern Form/Adult Protection Referral/Vulnerable Person Database Report and submitted to the Social Work Contact Centre.

5.2.0 Information sharing

5 | P a g e

5.2.1 Proportionate information exchange and analysis will take place from all core agencies. This will include information gathered as per section 4.3 above and where relevant any significant adults who are involved and/or associated with the child in question. Core agencies will also seek information from any other service and/or agency that may be involved with the child and have relevant information relating to named child. It will be the responsibility of each agency to ensure that all matters that are likely to be relevant is shared.

5.2.2 All four core agencies will thoroughly research their own information and recording systems, including all electronic databases and paper systems to enable effective decision making to take place. This will also include any information which indicates any potential risk to the safety of practitioners.

5.2.3. While it is desirable to have complete information on which to base joint decisions, there may be occasions when an immediate response is required. In such situations the IRD participants need to make decisions based on the information available to them at the time.

5.3.0 Consent

5.3.1 There is no legal requirement to obtain consent to investigate a child protection concern or to carry out the associated IRD process, including the associated information exchange. Nevertheless, the IRD process is fully cognizant of Data Protection Act 2018 and the lawful basis for processing information is based on the following:

Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the data controller is subject, or

Processing is necessary in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject,

Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the data controller.

5.3.2 The explicit consent of the child is not required to progress a child protection investigation, which is considered to be in the best interest of the child. Nevertheless, the views and wishes of the child should be taken into account in any actions taken and documented accordingly

5.3.3 Where a decision has been made to undertake a Joint Investigative Interview formal consent is not required but may only proceed with tacit consent or assent of the child or young person

5.3.4. A child or young person may consent, on their own behalf, to medical procedures and treatments, provided that in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner they are capable of understanding the nature and possible consequences of the treatment/procedure

6 | P a g e

5.3.5 The child or young person has the right to refuse or not comply with the medical examination where:

The child is deemed to have capacity to give consent on their own behalf; Parental consent to medical examination is given Where a court order authorising a medical examination has been granted

6.0 Risk assessment

6.1 Where there is a risk to the life of a child or the likelihood of serious, imminent, harm Police Scotland and Social Work must apply statutory measures to act immediately to secure the safety of the child or other children.

6.2 Each IRD will be risk assessed, which will include the following factors :-

Threat to life/safety of the child Immediate harm Immediate medical assistance required Forensic opportunities Risk suspect would pose to others Notifiable occupations (Persons in a position of trust)

Historical abuse

6.2.0. IRD decision making

6.2.1 In normal circumstances, an IRD will take place before any joint investigation proceeds. Joint Investigations will not be delayed simply because an IRD cannot take place immediately between all core agencies. Where a child has been assessed as at immediate risk of significant harm, Police Scotland and Social Work will take action without delay. An IRD meeting with all core agencies will follow as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter and will review the decisions and actions already completed. IRDs are dynamic and ongoing processes.

6.2.2 In circumstances where the Social Work Child Protection Team and Child Abuse Investigation Team are unable to respond immediately a request will be made to the relevant area social work team or the relevant police response team to ensure the safety of the child until a joint investigation can be progressed.

6.2.3. All IRD referrals will be risk assessed and a decision may be deferred, where a child is not considered to be at immediate risk. This will allow agencies to gather information which will be discussed at a later point within an IRD meeting to ensure a proportionate, informed decision is made.

6.2.4. Accurate recording of all IRD decisions, including any decisions to defer to interview siblings, will be recorded on the IRD Form at the time of the meeting. Consideration will always be taken as to when to inform parents/carers. A tracked

7 | P a g e

updated version of the IRD which include agency information will be available to IRD members when reviewed

6.2.5. Consideration should always be given to holding an Extended IRD meeting in complex child protection cases. This will ensure key practitioners who are involved/working with the child/children and family are invited to participate in the information sharing and decision making process.

6.2.6 The initial IRD meeting will identify a lead agency and timescales to progress the meeting. The rationale for deferring to an Extended IRD will always be recorded. The Extended IRD will then take responsibility for the ongoing progression of the IRD.

6.2.7 The participants of an IRD will consider/ make decisions on a number of issues including:

Risk to any other siblings and/or children connected to the child in question Agree explicit timescales, sequence of actions, roles, responsibilities etc. Securing additional information and who is responsible for doing so Agreement to conduct a Joint Investigative investigation, Single Agency

Response or refer back to the Named Person (Appendix 4) Request the Named Person to consider a Child Wellbeing Meeting Decision to interview siblings Request an Extended IRD meeting Agreement to conduct a Joint Paediatric and Forensic Medical Examination or

Specialist Medical Examination, planning and preparation for these, including gaining parental consent. The decision for a medical, or that a medical is not required, is subject to opinion of the on-call paediatrician.

Decide what information can be shared with the child and family on the basis that information is withheld if it could jeopardise a police investigation or place the child, or any other child, at risk of harm

Provision of further support for the child during and after the investigation Feedback to parents, carers, the child where appropriate Disclosure consideration where adults may pose a risk to other children and

persons in notifiable occupations.

This list is not exhaustive and the participants of the IRD meeting may identify further relevant actions.

6.2.7. In considering all of these decisions the sequence and timescales of actions and person responsible must be decided and recorded on the IRD form.

7.0 Dissent

7.1.1 Dissent or disagreement amongst IRD participants should be recorded within the IRD. It is expected that decisions are made on the basis of agreement and consensus, where this is not possible the majority view will support the decision of the IRD meeting.

8 | P a g e

7.1.2 Should a participant strongly disagree this must be recorded in the IRD and escalated to line manager for Multi-Agency Line Manager Review. All participants should comply with their own agency escalation/resolution dispute protocol.

7.1.3 If a line manager queries decisions this can be referred back to IRD participants setting out areas for reconsideration by completing a Request to Review IRD Decision (Appendix 5). All IRD participants should then discuss the decision making with their respective line manager. At this point the Team Manager, Social Work, Lead Nurse Child Protection, Education Manager and the Detective Inspector should meet to agree the way forward.

7.2 Identification of good or concerning practice

7.2.1 If example of good practice is identified this should be highlighted to single-agency line manager and escalated accordingly so that it can be captured as for self-evaluation purposes/learning and development.

7.2.2 If concerns are identified about practice it is the responsibility of the agency representatives to bring this back to their line manager for further discussion.

8.0 Completion

8.1 An IRD is considered completed when a decision has been made to proceed to:

A joint investigation Single agency response e.g. further assessment, referral to SCRA or

convening a CPCC Referral back to named person

8.2 Out of hours

8.2.1 Out-with normal office hours, this process will be different. The principle of multi-agency discussions remains, but responded to agency leads available. I.e. Emergency Social Work Out of Hours (EOOHS), Police Scotland Supervising Officer and an Acute Consultant Paediatrician

8.3 Feedback

8.3.1 Individual agencies will follow internal processes to feedback to Named Person Service/Lead Professionals and other relevant professionals At the commencement and end of a joint Police/Social Work investigation, the Social Work Child Protection Team will send partner agencies a SWIFT workflow message (Child Protection Message) to partner agencies for wider dissemination.

9.0 Governance/Strategic oversight (IRD Strategic Oversight group)

9 | P a g e

9.1 The overall aim of the CPC IRD Strategic Oversight Group is to oversee and monitor the development and delivery of the IRD process in Fife.

9.2 Key functions of the group will be to: Monitor, co-ordinate and review the IRD process in Fife and associated

strategies and action plans. Identify and support representatives from their respective organisations to

attend IRD meetings and undertake associated tasks. Work in accordance with the IRD SOG Performance Management Framework

(Appendix 6) and monitor progress Report to the Fife Child Protection Committee.

9.3 Fife Child Protection Committee will monitor these arrangements in terms of the Interagency Child Protection Guidance. The IRD process will feature in this guidance and will be included in the relevant child protection training.

10.0 Conclusion

An IRD is triggered in Fife when a child is thought to be at risk of significant harm/suffered or suffering harm as per defined parameters set out this protocol. The IRD is a key part of the child protection process and there is a responsibility on those taking part in the IRD to fully participate and understand their role, responsibility and contribution. The process is subject to rigorous governance arrangements underpinned by the IRD Performance Management Framework, reported and monitored to the Fife Child Protection Committee

10 | P a g e

APPENDIX 1

Legislative and policy framework includes:

Age and Legal Capacity (Scotland) Act 1991 Children and Young Person (Scotland) Act 1937 Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 Children (Scotland) Act 1995 Children Hearing (Scotland) Act 2011 Data Protection Act 2018 Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2014. Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation(Scotland) Act 2005 Scotland’s National Action Plan to Prevent and Eradicate FGM (2016) United Nations Conventions on the Right of the Child (UNCRC).

11 | P a g e

APPENDIX 2

Extended IRD

An extended IRD meeting should be convened in circumstances where the child/ren’s situation is complex and the daily IRD meeting participants are unlikely to have to have all the relevant information to inform appropriate levels of decision making and analysis.

All key professionals involved with the child/ren, their family and potential perpetrators should be invited to attend the extended IRD meeting. Participation is required from core agencies as per agreed IRD protocol (Social Work, health, police). It is the responsibility of those invited to identify another representative from their agency should they be unable to attend. CP colleagues/team leaders may attend for support/ expertise

The Extended IRD meeting should be chaired by the appropriate manager of the service generating the IRD, this would normally be a social work service manager or team manager or Detective Inspector from Police Scotland.

The service convening the extended IRD should invite all the relevant participants and arrange for a minute taker.

Any decision actions agreed at the extended IRD meeting do not require to be fed back to the daily IRD meeting.

The chair of the extended IRD meeting will determine whether a review meeting is required.

Strategy Meeting

When an IRD is received or a concern is raised which has practice implications for more than one child and their family then consideration to convening a strategy meeting should be given. The meeting will allow for all relevant lead processionals and named persons to be in attendance. This meeting would usually be chaired by a Service Manager, Social Work Team Manager or a Detective Inspector.( Members of the IRD will attend the strategy meeting and it will be the responsibility of the chairperson to agree in discussion with those in attendance the IRD decision. )

It will be the responsibility of the chairperson to agree, in discussion with those in attendance at the strategy meeting whether an IRD requires to be generated on any child/ren and if any tasks require to be distributed.

The chairperson will decide whether any review meetings are required.

12 | P a g e

APPENDIX 3

Roles and responsibilities:

3.1:CPSWT:

Roles and Responsibilities – Social Work

Fife social work service will fully participate in the IRD process.

The social work representative for an Inter-Agency Referral Discussion, during normal working hours, will be a senior practitioner or the team manager from the social work child protection team.

If the social work service is the receiving agency of a child protection concern then they will be required to comprehensively complete the Inter-agency referral discussion form (IRD). Routes of referral may be through an area children and families team or the social work contact centre.

It is imperative the receiving social work team complete the social work information sheet of the IRD form. All boxes should be completed and the social work history section should be a concise summary of all involvement with the child, detailing significant interventions eg CP registration, LAC Episodes.

SWIFT systems should also be checked for any relevant information pertaining to the parent/ carers and any alleged perpetrator.

On completion of the IRD form it should be sent immediately to the social work child protection team.

On receipt of the IRD form the child protection team will send the IRD form to the other three partner agencies at the following addresses.

PPU CAIT: FifeChildAbuseInvestUnit@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Health: Fife-uhb.InitialReferralDiscussion@nhs.net

Education: Education.IRD@fife.gsx.gov.uk

Where police are the receiving agency full social work checks will be completed from SWIFT by the child protection team prior to the IRD meeting if possible and sent to the PPU CAIT. If time constraints do not allow this then systems will be scrutinised at the IRD meeting and the information shared accordingly by the social work representative.

The expectation of the social work representative at an IRD meeting is to share relevant information relating the child, the child’s parents or carers and the suspected perpetrator of the concern. The social work representative will be expected to fully contribute to the assessment of the information shared and to the decision making in respect of the presenting referral.

13 | P a g e

Following the IRD meeting the child protection team will record the IRD decision on SWIFT and liaise where appropriate with allocated social workers regarding the outcome of the IRD meeting.

Out of Hours

If a child protection concern is made to social work out of normal working hours this would be made via the social work emergency Out of Hours service.

If the concern for a child is likely to require a joint investigation with the police, then contact should be made with the appropriate on duty police incident officer (duty inspector) on 101. At this point a discussion will take place to risk assess the situation and make a decision as to whether the referral can be left for an IRD during normal working hours. If the decision is made to defer the referral, then a full background check on all the relevant person(s) and the child/ren should be carried out. A risk assessment surrounding the alleged abuser should be made and if appropriate the relevant child/ren should be made safe until an IRD takes place to agree further actions.

Where a referral is made to social work out of hours, that is deemed urgent and it is not appropriate to wait for the normal process, within office hours, then the social work Out of Hours co-ordinator will become the IRD representative for social work.

The discussion will take place with a relevant police Inspector, or in some cases Sergeant. This discussion will most likely be over the phone. The details of the information shared and should be recorded on the inter-agency referral discussion form, along with any discussion and decisions made in respect of the child/ren. This should then be forwarded to the social work child protection team for information and to be retrospectively discussed within the IRD meeting during normal working hours, if appropriate.

If it is agreed a Joint Investigation is required then the social work Out of Hours co-ordinator should contact the appropriate JII worker on the rota.

Where a child is injured or may require an immediate medical examination, then contact should be made with the on-call consultant paediatrician at Victoria Hospital. Contact can be made with this person through the usual NHS switchboard telephone number.

If a Joint Paediatric Forensic Medical is required this should be discussed and agreed with the police representative. It will be Police Scotland’s responsibility to make arrangements for the JPFME to take place.

3.2: Education

Education Services Roles and Responsibilities

Inter-Agency Referral Discussion (IRD)

14 | P a g e

Participation at Inter-Agency Referral Discussion

The IRD is held at the Public Protection Unit (PPU) at Police Scotland ‘P’ Division Headquarters, Detroit Road, Glenrothes at 08.30 am Monday – Friday.

A Development Officer1 from the Education Service will attend IRD to represent education.

The Development Officer will report to the Education Manager2 with a strategic remit for Child Protection

Duration of the meeting is dependent upon individual cases, but the expectation is it will last no longer that 2 hours3.

The education representative will share information on the child/young person who is the subject of the IRD, the siblings of that child/young person, and any other child(ren) or young person(s) connected to that child/young person. In addition, information will be shared about any key and/or significant adults who are involved and/or associated with the child/young person in question.

During the IRD discussion the education representative will assess and offer their professional judgment regarding the outcome for individual cases based on all information shared.

Cases discussed will be recorded on the Education IRD template by the Development Officer and stored in the secure IRD folder for that week for future reference.

The information shared by the Education Service complies with Article 6 of the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR – ‘The lawfulness of Processing’.

The lawful bases for the Education Service sharing information with IRD are:

Art. 6 GDPR

1. (c) Processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the controller is subject, or

1. (d) Processing is necessary in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person, or

1. (e) Processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

Information shared by the education Service shall be propionate and appropriate to the IRD being discussed.

Information Gathering

Information gathered for each IRD will be undertaken by an Education and Children’s Services Support Officer based within the Education Service, Rothesay House, Glenrothes.

1 Currently Mr C McConnell2 Currently Mr G Wardrope3 The Education service recognises that there may be occasions when the IRD meeting will exceed 2hours in duration15 | P a g e

Incomplete IRD form sent from fifechildabuseinvestunit@scotland.pnn.police.uk to education.ird@fife.gov.uk mailbox will be populated and returned to the CAIT in the PPU.

Initial Information Collated by Support Officer/process

1. Open individual IRD email and read attachment form.

2. Information collated of ‘Child/Children of Concern’ only (Section 3) unless otherwise requested by Education Development Officer/Education Manager and Public Protection Unit.

3. Where it is recorded that the suspect abuser is a child/young person and is under 18 years of age that child/young person will be seen as a vulnerable child/young person and information will be collated in the same manner as a subject child.

4. The Support Officer will:

contact the Nursery/Primary School - contact Headteacher in first instance, if not available the CP Coordinator and in Secondary School - contact the CP Coordinator or Depute Headteacher.

state that a PPU request has been received in connection with Child Protection.

will not provide a brief if schools ask nature of the PPU, schools would be advised to contact the Development Officer or a message left for the Development Officer to contact the school later in the day.

5. Information collated of Subject Child/Children

Source the following information from SEEMiS:

Name and Date of Birth School and stage Childs address Recorded Additional Support Needs of the child Any relevant medical information held by the school The child’s attendance – percentage to-date If the child is present at this time Details of any siblings, only if noted in Subject Child/Children

(Section 3)

Support Officer will contact the CP Coordinator and ask 5 questions listed below:

i. Additional Support Needs?ii. Child Present/Absent today?  iii. Current or Historic Care & Welfare Issues?iv. Any Child Protection Issues?

16 | P a g e

v. Feedback from Class Teacher (ie demeanour, behaviour and well-being)?

6. Support Officer will note information from SEEMiS and the school contact on template provided.

7. Attach completed template and email to FifeChildAbuseInvestUnit@scotland.pnn.police.uk , Education Notification and SWCP Team

8. PPU will contact Support Officer if they require further information;

9. Any other information relating to the nature of the Inter-Agency Referral Discussion will be directed to the Development Officer, or if unavailable the Education Manager;

10.The services attending the IRD will consider and make decisions on a number of issues including any immediate legal measures, agreement to conduct a Joint Investigation, Single Agency Response or No further Action;

11.Following the IRD meeting the ‘complete’ IRD form will be sent back to education.ird@fife.gov.uk mailbox. The completed IRD form to be filed in ‘week beginning’ folder in the Education IRD network drive.

12.Completed IRD's overwrite the incomplete IRD forms.

13. If IRDs are received by the PPU containing allegations against staff of the Education Service, Gordon Wardrope, Education Manager should be contacted (at VoIP 442948 or gordon.wardrope@fife.gov.uk) to allow an assessment of the risk to children and young people within the education establishment.

Out of Hours The Education Manager or Development Officer can be contacted by mobile out with normal office hours. It should be noted that they have limited access to information systems out of hours. AMENDED August 2018.

17 | P a g e

3.3: Police

IRD PROCESS

Police Role & Responsibilities

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES - POLICE

Police Scotland recognises their statutory obligation to fully participate in the IRD process.

In Fife (P Division), the police representative for an Inter-agency Referral Discussion, during normal working hours, will be a Detective Sergeant based within the Child Abuse Investigation Team.

It is Police Scotland’s expectation that only officers who have successfully completed the Police Scotland National Advanced Child Protection Interagency Referral Discussion course will undertake this role. It is acknowledged that this training is in its infancy and therefore until such time as all officers have completed the course, there will be occasions where a suitable experienced detective Sgt or constable will undertake the IRD role.

Out of Hours or in circumstances where the IRD Sgt is unavailable, an experienced officer will fulfil the role of the Police representative to allow the progress of an IRD.

Where the police are the receiving agency, then the representative for the IRD process will be required to generate the Inter-agency Referral Discussion form.

The IRD Sgt will conduct a thorough and comprehensive search of Police databases and share relevant information held. The following systems will be searched:

Crimefile Scottish Intelligence Database (SID) PPU Database (Legacy Fife System) Interim Vulnerable Persons Database STORM

18 | P a g e

Police National Computer Criminal History System Sex Offender Database (Fife Legacy System) PND ViSOR

These system checks should be completed in respect of The alleged abuser(s) The child victim(s) and any other relevant person to the child and the alleged abuser, particularly

children.

An accurate record of the police checks carried out and any relevant information shared will be added to the IRD form.

Once complete, the IRD form should be sent to the other three partner agencies at the following addresses:

Social Work: swcp.team@fife.gsx.gov.uk

Education & Children’s Services: Education.IRD@fife.gsx.gov.uk

NHS Fife Child Protection Team: Fife-uhb.InitialReferralDiscussion@nhs.net

This ensures that all agencies have a copy of the same form for the incident referred.

Where Social Work are the receiving agency, the Social Work representative will fully complete the IRD form, however, the Police representative will still check the aforementioned systems and share all relevant information with Social Work.

The expectation of the Police representative at an IRD meeting is to share police information; fully assess the information provided by the other agencies and come to a collective decision about how each referral should proceed.

OUT OF HOURS

If a concern for a child is made to police and is likely to require a joint investigation with Social Work, then contact should be made with Social Work Emergency Out of Hours (03451 550099) in order for a risk assessment to be carried out and a decision to be made whether the referral can be left for an IRD during the normal process and times. If the decision is made to defer the referral, then full checks on the relevant person(s) and child/ren should be carried out; the relevant child/ren made safe and a risk assessment surrounding the alleged abuser made.

Where a referral is made to Police that is deemed urgent and is not appropriate to wait for the normal process, then the relevant duty Sergeant or Inspector will become the IRD representative for the police. The discussion will take place with Social Work Emergency Out of Hours and this is likely to be over the phone. The details of the information shared and the decision made should be recorded and forwarded for the

19 | P a g e

attention of the IRD Detective Sergeant using FifeChildAbuseInvestUnit@Scotland.pnn.police.uk; to allow an IRD form to be generated in retrospect.

Where a child is injured or may require an immediate Medical Examination, then contact should be made with the On Call Consultant Paediatrician at the Victoria Hospital. Contact can be made with this professional through the usual NHS switchboard telephone number.

In all cases, consideration should be given to contacting the on-call SIO who may consider contacting suitably trained staff from the Child Abuse Investigation Team for assistance.

Please note – between 0800 – 1600 hrs on a Saturday and a Sunday, there will be a minimum of one Detective Constable from the Child Abuse Investigation Team on duty.

4.4: Health:

NHS Fife Child Protection Team /

Senior Child Protection Nurse Advisor (SCPNA) Role and Remit in Inter-agency Referral Discussion (IRD)

IntroductionThis NHS Fife Role and Remit paper specifies the role of the NHS Fife Child Protection Team/SCPNA within IRD meetings and processes, as approved by the NHS Fife Executive Lead for Child Protection and Associate Medical Director (Caldicott Guardian).

The agreed role and remit has taken cognisance of, and is compliant with, Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines, NHS Fife policies, national and local multi-agency child protection guidance, the local multi-agency Information Sharing Agreement and national legislation relating to information sharing and governance (Data Protection Act, 1998).

This paper forms one part of NHS Fife’s information sharing responsibilities where a subject child/ren named in an IRD is/are believed to be at risk of harm and supports information exchange within the wider Health context.

SCPNA Roles and Responsibilities - Initial Interagency Referral Discussion:NHS Fife is represented at the daily IRD meeting by an allocated SCPNA. The SCPNA performs specific activities associated with the IRD process (Appendix 1) including:

Preparation for the IRD meeting, including initial gathering of relevant and proportionate health information to inform the decision making of the IRD meeting (agreed NHS Fife parameters are detailed in Appendix 2)

Participation in the multi-agency assessment of needs and risks for children who are subject children named in an IRD specifically to support the collaborative decision making against agreed outcomes of the IRD meeting, these being the requirement:

i) for a joint police/social work investigation;

20 | P a g e

ii) for a Specialist or Joint Forensic Paediatric Medical; iii) for a single agency responseiv) to gather further informationv) no further action

Communication of the agreed IRD decision outcomes to relevant health practitioners to support both individual service assessments and any ongoing multi-agency liaison required thereafter for the continued management of the case. The SCPNA has no role within the case management phase of the IRD activity therefore establishing these links with the Health ‘team around the child’ is a crucial activity to ensure a continued and appropriate Health contribution.

Chairing of IRD meeting, as per agreed multi-agency ‘Role and Remit’.

Signatories: NHS Fife Executive Lead for Child Protection Date:

NHS Fife Caldicott Guardian Date:

21 | P a g e

22 | P a g e

Appendix 1

NHS Fife information gathering and sharing to support IRD assessment and decision making processes. NoteThe Child Protection Team / SCPNA has no direct access to any individual health service records therefore the information collated is in partnership with those health practitioners who are case holders and have, or have had, direct involvement with the child/family. The case holders remain accountable for the information that they share through this process. Service/department of NHS Fife gathering/sharing health information

Health service/department from which information is gathered

Information gathered and shared

All professionals who provide feedback are guided to specifically consider the child’s ‘My World triangle’1) what is intrinsic to the child (health; growth etc); 2) what do they need from their parents and what barriers/issues might there be; 3) what issues or barriers are there in the child’s wider world.

Information gathered routinely Additional information gathered, if required

NHS Fife Child Protection Team / SCPNA will request:

Health Visiting / Family Nursing (Named Person Service)

Comprehensive feedback will include all known information regarding health needs that are crucial for consideration to manage an interview for the child such as: known sensory difficulties such as visual, hearing or communication issues; acute health needs that may require to be considered such as asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, epilepsy or any known mental health issues that may make the child particularly vulnerable and indicate that careful and considerate management for the interview is required.

As named persons maintain the overview from the child health record will also provide any known relevant and proportionate information in regard subject child’s parents, carers or siblings.

N/A

School Nursing Information gathered routinely Additional information gathered, if required

Comprehensive feedback will be provided for a child who is known Minimal feedback will be provided – Approved By CPC on: 23.08.18

Due for review on: 23.08.20

Appendix 2

to the school nursing service and for whom an IRD has been raised (i.e. current involvement or known to service within last 6 months).

This feedback will be relevant to the nature of the concern and could require the inclusion of A/E attendance information, growth parameters (to inform medical examinations) as well as key significant chronology entries which are proportionate and relevant to the concerns raised.

Feedback will include all known information regarding health needs that are crucial for consideration to manage an interview for the child such as: known sensory difficulties such as visual, hearing or communication issues; acute health needs that may require to be considered such as asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, epilepsy or any known mental health issues that may make the child particularly vulnerable and indicate that careful and considerate management for the interview is required.

i.e. feedback shared that the child is not currently known to the School Nursing service and there are nil known concerns.

This would be provided with the caveat that partners will be made aware that a review of records will be carried out by the School Nursing and, if following that, any historical information, proportionate and relevant to the current concerns is identified, this information will be forwarded by the School Nurse directly to multiagency partners to inform any ongoing case management.

NHS Fife Child Protection Team / SCPNA will request:

GP Information gathered routinely Additional information gathered, if required

GP summary for child including existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, significant allergies, ADHD as well as current essential medications and any relevant recent contacts.

The SCPNA may seek additional information through direct contact with the GP regarding parental health information, where the SCPNA has exercised their clinical judgement and concluded that this information is relevant to the nature of the concern raised and will be required to inform an IRD outcome decision.

24

In exercising their clinical judgement the SCPNA will give consideration to both the concerns raised within the IRD and those raised within the multiagency discussions.

NHS Fife Child Protection Team/ SCPNA will review:

Available E-health systems (Oasis/ Portal)

To identify which health services the child is currently known to, or where relevant, has had previous contact e.g. A&E attendances and mental health services.

The SCPNA may seek additional information from named health practitioners regarding parental health information, where the SCPNA has exercised their clinical judgement and concluded that this information is relevant to the nature of the concern raised and will be required to inform an IRD outcome decision.

In exercising their clinical judgement the SCPNA will give consideration to both the concerns raised within the IRD and those raised within the multiagency discussions.

NHS Fife Child Protection Team / SCPNA will request:

Other identified health practitioners who work directly with the child e.g. CAMHS.

The SCPNA will inform these services that an IRD has been raised for a child known to their service and provide contact information for multi-agency partners so these health practitioners can liaise directly as required.

The SCPNA may seek in writing additional information through direct contact with other health practitioners regarding their involvement with the

25

subject child, where the SCPNA has exercised their clinical judgement and concluded that this information is relevant to the nature of the concern raised and will be required to inform an IRD decision.

Specific circumstances

PF requests for a child to be interviewed as a witness to a crime

School Nursing Information gathered routinely Additional information gathered, if required

In this case brief details of involvement of the School Nursing service with the child will be shared if relevant and proportionate to do so.

Feedback will include all known information regarding health needs that are crucial for consideration to manage an interview.

N/A

Health Visiting/Family Nursing (Named Person Service)

A minimal feedback response will be provided. In this case brief details of involvement of the Health Visiting service with the child should be shared if relevant and proportionate to do so. If the child is unknown to the School Nursing service partners will be made aware that a review of records will be carried out by the School Nursing service and if following that any historical information, proportionate and relevant to the current concerns, is identified this information will be forwarded by the School Nurse directly to multiagency partners to inform the ongoing case management.

Feedback should include all known information regarding health needs that are crucial for consideration to manage an interview.

N/A

GP Feedback should include all known information regarding health needs that are crucial for consideration to manage an

N/A

26

interview.

Extended IRDs N/A The routine role of the SCPNA within Extended IRD meetings is specifically to identify relevant health practitioners i.e. the ‘Team Around the Child’, who either have a current or recent (last 6 months) involvement with the child/family.

The SCPNA will then extend an invitation to attend the meeting to the practitioners/Team Leaders* identified and to provide relevant, proportionate information to the meeting, if unable to attend in person.

Available relevant IRD background information will be shared with these practitioners to support them to share relevant and proportionate health information to the Extended IRD meeting.

The ‘Team Around the Child’ practitioners will also be provided with the name and contact details of the Chair of the Extended IRD meeting (usually senior Social Worker or Police Officer). They will be asked to confirm their attendance, or give their apologies, directly to the Chair.

If unable to attend the meeting, the practitioners will also be asked to submit any relevant health information directly to the Chair, to support the multi-agency assessment and decision making process.

*School Nursing: The SCPNA will liaise with the Team Leader who will reach a decision as to which team member will attend.

In exceptional circumstances, the Lead Nurse Child Protection may reach the decision that a SCPNA will attend an Extended IRD meeting.

The role of the SCPNA in these circumstances is to share information regarding decisions reached and relevant plans with the Team Around the Child’ practitioners following the meeting.

Medical Examination and decision making

N/A The role of the SCPNA in the IRD meeting decision making process includes consideration of potential health needs of the subject child/ren.

Where, in their professional judgement, the SCPNA believes that a medical (SME or JPFME) may be required the SCPNA

N/A

27

will discuss the IRD with the Paediatrician on call on their return from the IRD meeting, so that a decision can be reached by a suitably qualified medical practitioner.

Following the IRD meeting, the SCPNA will discuss all IRDs discussed at the IRD meetings with the Paediatrician on call to provide the medical practitioner with an overview of all cases. Where they deem it relevant to do so the Paediatrician will liaise directly with Police and/or Social work to discuss any cases further or where they themselves identify the need for a medical to be undertaken.

Where Police identify the need for a JPFME to be undertaken to gather forensic evidence the SCPNA will advise the Paediatrician on call/medical secretary to facilitate direct liaison between the Paediatrician and Police.

All decisions about the nature and timing of medical examinations will be made by appropriately trained and experienced medical staff.

ALLEGED PERPETRATORS

Information gathered routinely Additional information sharing, if required

NHS Fife Child Protection Team / SCPNA will request:

As for subject children above.

Where a child is alleged to have perpetrated a crime against another child information gathering will be carried out in full as above.

Routine screening of health information relating to adult perpetrators (not parents or guardians of the child) will not be carried out unless in exceptional circumstances where the SCPNA has exercised their clinical judgement and concluded that this information is relevant to the nature of the concern raised and will be required to inform an IRD decision. This will be done after consultation with the Lead Nurse for child protection.

N/A

28

Wider health services contribution

All services N/A Alleged PerpetratorsWhere multi-agency partners require health information regarding alleged adult perpetrators, either for an ongoing investigation or case management purposes, NHS Fife will support the direct sharing of relevant and proportionate information via the named practitioner who has direct involvement with the alleged perpetrator.

The Role of the SCPNA is to provide the contact details for relevant health practitioners to support direct liaison between multi-agency partners and these health professionals.

29

APPENDIX 4:

4.1: Joint investigation/assessmentExtract from National CP Guidance in Scotland, p. 93-94: The purpose of joint investigations is to establish the facts regarding a potential crime or offence against a child, and to gather and share information to inform the assessment of risk and need for that child, and the need for any protective action. The joint investigation can also provide evidence in court proceedings, such as a criminal trial or a Children‟s Hearing proof.340. A joint investigation may normally be undertaken in cases:

involving familial abuse; where the child is looked after by the local authority; where there are particular difficulties in communicating and it is considered that social workers or other staff could contribute effectively to the

investigation; or in any other circumstances, where it is agreed jointly by police and social

work, that a joint approach would be beneficial to the enquiry.341. In a joint investigation, key agencies such as social work services, the policeand health services should plan and carry out their respective tasks in a co-ordinatedway. This must involve the Named Person but should not preclude any otheragencies or individuals becoming involved. For example, education services or thirdsector organisations may be involved in supporting the child throughout theinvestigation and adult services may be involved in identifying risk factors. Within ajoint investigation, agencies will have, at times, different responsibilities to fulfil, butassociated activities should be planned together. This could include jointinvestigative interviews, forensic medical examinations, health assessments and identifying any relevant information agencies need to share about the child and theirfamily. Local systems should be in place to facilitate early discussions between keyagencies. It is critical that relevant services are consulted about any information theymay hold on the child and family that might affect the child protection investigation,such as learning difficulties in the child and the need for augmented and alternativeforms of communication, or significant mental health or alcohol misuse issues in aparent/carer. As much information as possible will be needed to inform theinvestigation and risk assessment. For more information see National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2014 and Scottish Government (2011) Guidance on Joint Investigative Interviewing of Child Witnesses in Scotland. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

4.2: Joint Forensic Medical Examination/ Specialist Medical Examination Extracted from National Child Protection Guidance in Scotland 2014, p.95:371. A specialist paediatric or joint paediatric/forensic examination may need to be carried out under the following circumstances:

the child urgently requires more specialist assessment or treatment at a paediatric department (for example, if they have a head injury or suspected fractures);

the account of the injuries provided by the carer does not provide an acceptable explanation of the child's condition;

Approved By CPC on: 23.08.18

Due for review on: 23.08.20

the result of the initial assessment is inconclusive and a specialist's opinion is needed to establish the diagnosis;

lack of corroboration of the report, such as a clear statement from another child or adult witness, indicates that forensic examination, including the taking of photographs, may be necessary to support criminal proceedings against a perpetrator and legal remedies to protect the child;

the child's condition (for example, repeated episodes of unexplained bruising) requires further investigation;

and in cases of suspected child sexual abuse, as the medical examination has to be carried out by medical practitioners with specialist skills using specialist equipment. (For more information see National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2014)

31

APPENDIX 5:

REQUEST TO REVIEW IRD DECISION

Request submitted

by:

Date:

Name of Child:

Date of IRD:

IRD Reference No:

SWIFT ID/CHI:

Details of decision taken by IRD:

Area of concern requiring review:

Outcome sought:

Date of review IRD

32

discussion:

Participants:

Feedback from IRD meeting in response to request to review decision:

Is escalation to line manager IRD required? Yes/No

Action taken:

Outcome of line management review:

Date referred to IRD SOG:

33

APPENDIX 6:

Performance Management Framework

Fife Council Education and Children Services

Police Scotland Fife Division

NHS FIFE/Health and Social Care Partnership

IRD SOG Performance Management Framework

Inter-agency Referral Discussion (IRD) Performance Management Framework

The IRD performance management framework underpins the governance, quality assurance and improvement work relating to Inter-agency Referral Discussions in Fife. The framework has now been refreshed to reflect the updated version of Care Inspectorate Quality Indicators 2018/2019, and is informed by national child protection guidance, local and national case reviews and research.

1. Performance StandardsThe standards for which IRD performance is measured against is underpinned by the Care Inspectorate Quality Assurance Framework 2018/19, under the following Quality Indicators:1.1: improvement in the safety, wellbeing and life chances of vulnerable children and young people3.1: Impact on staff

34

Improvement

Reporting

Performance measuresPerfromance

StandardsIRD

managementperformanceframework

5.1: Delivery of key processes – Initial responseThe framework is also underpinned by the following:

Standards set out by the South East of Scotland Managed Clinical Network for Child Protection

Fife Child Protection Committee Improvement Plan (2017-2020) Staff feedback, such as IMatters

2. Performance measuresTo ensure rigour, the performance measures involve both multi-and single agency data analysis, so that findings can be triangulated where possible:

2.1Multi-agency: Six monthly analysis of a sample of completed IRDs, benchmarked against agreed standards relating to quality of child focused risk assessment, analysis and decision making; turnaround and availability of agency information and quality of documentation (multi-agency). An evaluation exercise may also focus entirely on task allocation to ascertain that tasks decided from the IRD were completed in a timely fashion (including arranging medicals)

And

2.2: At least one single agency audit/evaluation activity per core agency/year (examples, this list is not exhaustive): Thematic/emerging themes analysis - i.e. socio demographic features;

prevalence of referrals against children and young people with protected characteristics, i.e. race and disability

Complaints Service user’s experience – survey Named Person’s views survey Quantitative data - number of IRDs, turnaround (annual trends) Performance data relating to paediatric contributions to IRDs (MCN) Communication and impact of single agency protocols on IRDs IRD participants – impact (supervision)

2.3 The annual development day may also constitute as a self-evaluation exercise

2.4: Future more extensive improvement outline: informed by longitudinal performance measures – follow a child’s journey.

3 Reporting

35

Performance measures and self-evaluation summaries are analysed and compiled by members of the IRD SOG and submitted to the CPC self-evaluation working group on an annual basis and cross referenced in the 2 monthly update to the CPC

4 ImprovementContinuing improvement is woven through the IRD SOG Action Plan which will capture and monitor progress through a RAG proforma

36