Child protection services in Clackmannanshire respond to concerns that a child or young person may be at risk of abuse, neglect or significant harm. This includes harm in families, peer groups, communities and online.
In line with National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, exploitation is abuse and can include child sexual exploitation (CSE), child criminal exploitation (CCE), trafficking, online abuse and group based offending or exploitation.
Police Scotland's online child sexual abuse and exploitation campaign signposts people who may be worried about their own thoughts or behaviour to the Lucy Faithfull Foundation Stop It Now services for confidential support to prevent offending.
Sextortion: Children being targeted for sextortion is a national issue and this crime can be reported by children and parents/carers via the Fearless: Anonymous Reporting for a Safer Community (Crimestoppers) website or by calling 0800 555 111.]
The safety of our children is everyone's responsibility.
Clackmannanshire Council is working in partnership with parents, families and communities in offering Child Protection and family support services to enhance the opportunities of all children and young people.
We fully embrace the principles of The Promise, United Nations Convention of Rights of Children (UNCRC) and Getting It Right for Every Child in our practices, policies and procedures. We are trauma informed in our approach.
We aim to help as soon as we can to ensure children are safe, nurtured and healthy. We work directly with children, young people, parents and families, providing a range of family support services including:
We have a legal duty to ensure that children are protected from abuse and neglect. Allegations and concerns relating to child abuse are investigated jointly by Social Services staff with Police Scotland.
This service is for:
Concerns may relate to:
This includes CSE, CCE and concerns about group-based offending or exploitation.
Who to contact if concerned that a child is being abused or is at risk of abuse:
If you wish to remain anonymous when you report a case of suspected child abuse, you can. However, it is helpful if you give your contact details as there might be further information you could give. The family will not be given your details unless you agree.
Any information about you will be treated with care. Any details, including your name, will not be revealed unless the child's safety requires it. Even if you do not give your name, enquiries can still be made into the child's care and welfare. However, withholding your name may make it more difficult for those looking into these concerns. Any information you give may need to be shared with other professionals to ensure appropriate action is taken to protect the child.
Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment. Abuse or neglect may involve inflicting harm or failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be harmed in families, peer groups, care settings, institutions, communities and in the online environment. Those responsible may be known or unknown to the child, may be in positions of trust, and may act alone or as part of a group. Children may be harmed pre-birth, for instance by domestic abuse of a mother or through parental alcohol and drug use.
National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland makes clear that sexual exploitation and criminal exploitation are forms of child abuse. A child may appear to comply or take part, but this does not remove the imbalance of power or the need for protection.
Child sexual exploitation can involve pressure, manipulation or coercion into sexual activity, including contact abuse, non-contact abuse, image sharing, online grooming or being exploited by more than one perpetrator. Group based offending or exploitation can involve two or more individuals acting together in person or online.
Child criminal exploitation can include being coerced or manipulated into carrying drugs, storing weapons or money, theft, violence, intimidation or other offending for another person's benefit. Criminal exploitation may be linked to trafficking, county lines activity or serious organised crime, but it can also happen outside those contexts.
Concerns about trafficking, sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation, online abuse or group-based offending require an immediate child protection response and information may need to be shared quickly between services to keep a child safe.
Children can therefore be abused in different ways. They could be physically injured, sexually abused, emotionally abused or neglected.
Children who have been abused rarely tell, but there are signs which may make you worry that a child has been abused. The child may have unexplained bruising, or bruising in an unusual place, seem afraid, quiet or withdrawn, be afraid to go home, or seem hungry, tired or unkempt.
You may also be concerned if a child goes missing, has unexplained money, gifts or hotel stays, is being picked up by unknown adults, is carrying drugs or weapons for others, is frightened of particular people, is being controlled online, or is sharing sexual images under pressure.
You may also see behaviour in an adult which makes you worry about any children they care for. For example, an adult may be acting violently or sexually towards a child, misusing drugs or alcohol while caring for a child or be verbally abusive towards a child.
Physical punishment and discipline of children is against the law.
In line with the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019, all forms of physical punishment of children is against the law with children having the same legal protection from assault as adults.
More information can be found on the Scottish Government's website including factsheets for adults and children.
Child Protection Services:
Where necessary, legal measures may include:
The safety and wellbeing of the child is always the primary consideration.
When you contact a professional about your concern that a child is being abused, unless the child is in immediate danger, they will make some initial enquiries before taking action. They will check whether the child is known to Services, such as Education, Health, Police and Social Service professionals.
All information will be treated seriously and acted upon. In line with national guidance, concerns about abuse, neglect, exploitation, trafficking or online harm may lead to immediate child protection action or to a more planned multi-agency response.
Following enquiries professionals may, for example:
You will be advised of the process in the case of suspect child abuse, but the outcome of an investigation will remain confidential.
Child Protection
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 225000 / 450000
Email: childcare@clacks.gov.uk