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Publication - Advice and guidance

National guidance for child protection committees undertaking learning reviews

Published
17 June 2024
From
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
Directorate
Children and Families Directorate
Topic
Children and families
ISBN
9781836013792

Guidance (published 2021, updated 2024) to support child protection committees to reflect, learn and improve child protection systems and practice when a child or young person dies, is significantly harmed, or was at risk of death or significant harm or where there was effective practice.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Changes made in 2024

Following the publication of this Guidance in 2021, the Learning Review Implementation Group have worked hard to support the implementation of the guidance across Scotland.

During this time the Group have considered feedback on the implementation of this Guidance and in 2024 have revised the Guidance to reflect necessary updates and developments.

The table below shows the updates that have been made, colour-coded as follows based on the significance of the change:

Significant additions or amendments (SA) that might require a change in practice

New text (NT) to be aware of

Minor amendments (MA) or additions to existing sections

2021 location 2024 location L evel of change Update
Chapter 2, page 5 Chapter 2, page 5 SA Split out into separate sections the criteria for when a child sustained or is at risk of significant harm and when a child has died.
Chapter 2, page 5 Chapter 2, page 5 MA Updated National Child Protection Guidance link to 2023 version.
N/A Chapter 2, page 5 NT Addition to Learning Review criteria in the case of the child being managed under Care and Risk Management (CARM) processes and causing harm to another person or themselves.
N/A Chapter 2, page 6 and 7 NT Added references to Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA) processes.
Chapter 2, page 8 Chapter 2, page 8 MA Amendment to include link to National Hub’s National guidance when a child or young person dies.
N/A Chapter 2, Page 8 NT Additional wording on how to contribute to the National Hub Core Review Data Set.
N/A Chapter 3, page 9 NT Additional wording to reflect importance of early discussions between multi-agency partners.
N/A Chapter 3, page 9 NT Additional wording on initiating a Learning Review when a child has died, ensuring CPCs consult with the partnership’s Child Death Review Group to minimise duplication.
N/A Chapter 3, page 11 NT Additional wording to give consideration to cross-border placements of high risk children during cross-border Learning Reviews.
N/A Chapter 3, page 11 NT New heading on involving Adult Protection Committees when the review involved a young person over 16.
Chapter 3, page 13 Chapter 3, page 13 NT Additional wording to ensure any learning gathered from cases which do not meet the criteria for a Learning Review is still shared.
Chapter 3, page 13 Chapter 3, page 13 MA Updated link for the Care Inspectorate’s Quality Framework for Children and Young People in Need of Care and Protection.
Chapter 4, page 20 Chapter 4, page 20 MA Updated Annex number from 6 to 5.
Chapter 4. page 21 Chapter 4, page 21 NT Additional wording on who is the data controller when writing the Learning Review Report.
Chapter 4, page 21 Chapter 4, page 21 MA Updated number on Annex from 1.6 to 1.5.
Chapter 4, page 22 Chapter 4, page 22 MA Bolded sentence to underline importance of ensuring learning is still shared even if a report is not published.
Chapter 4, page 24 Chapter 4, page 24 SA Addition of final step for alternative learning and minutes to still be shared with the Care Inspectorate even when a Learning Review has not been carried out.
Chapter 5, page 26 Chapter 5, page 6 NT Additional wording on the role of the Care Inspectorate.
Annex 1, page 28 Annex 1, page 28 MA Addition of CPC abbreviation.
Annex 1, page 29 Annex 1, page 29 SA Split into separate sections the criteria for when a child sustained or was at risk of significant harm and when a child has died.
Annex 1, page 30 Annex 1, page 30 MA Signposted to Learning Review Notification in Annex 1.1.
Annex 1.2, page 34 Annex 1.2, page 34 MA Amendment from “to conduct” to “for consideration” to reflect that a decision might be taken to not conduct a Learning Review.
Annex 1.3, page 37 Annex 1.3, page 37 MA Combined Annex 1.3 and 1.4 so there is one form for Learning Review Recommendation and Decision Template.
Annex 1.4, page 39 Annex 1.3, page 39 MA Combined Annex 1.4 with 1.3.
Annex 1.5, page 42 Annex 1.4, page 42 MA Updated Annex number due to combining Annex 1.3 and 1.4
Annex 1.6, page 43 Annex 1.5, page 43 MA Updated Annex number due to combining Annex 1.3 and 1.4
Annex 1.6, page 43 Annex 1.5, page 43 MA Updated to include full terms of reference, rather than requiring the drafting of a summary of the terms of reference.
Annex 2, page 45 Annex 2, page 45 MA Grammatical edit.
Annex 2, page 46 Annex 2, page 46 MA Grammatical edit.
Annex 2, page 46 Annex 2, page 47 MA Grammatical edit.
Annex 2, page 49 Annex 2, page 49 MA Grammatical edit.
Annex 2, page 50 Annex 2, page 50 MA Spelling out “Learning Review”.
Annex 3, page 54 Annex 3, page 54 SA Updated National Child Death Review and Learning Hub Process Map.

Contact

Email: Child_Protection@gov.scot

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