Are you worried about a child or young person?
Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried about the safety of a child in Aberdeen call:
- 0800 731 5520 (Social Work)
- 101 (Police Scotland)
Contact us even if you are unsure, then we can take steps to assess the risk to the child and, if needed, to support and protect them.
Information for Families Living in Scotland
The below information can be translated to a language of your choice using the 'Accessibility Tools' button in the top right hand corner of this screen.
The Child Protection Committee is a partnership with representatives from all agencies in Aberdeen responsible for Child Protection arrangements including Social Work, Police Scotland, Health, Education, Children’s Hearings, Housing and the Third Sector. The Child Protection Committee aims to support staff and members of the public to ensure Aberdeen is the best place in Scotland to grow up, to promote the care and welfare of our children and to protect them from abuse and harm.
The below information has been put together to share with parents and carers regarding children’s rights, and the laws in place in Scotland that protect children from all forms of abuse and neglect.
In Scotland, a child is someone who is under the age of eighteen.
Laws in Scotland that protect children and young people ensure that the child’s welfare comes first. In Scotland all children have a right to be protected from all forms of abuse and neglect.
There are various laws in Scotland which are designed to make sure that children are properly protected and cared for. The Police are responsible for enforcing these laws, but all agencies have responsibilities in making sure that the laws aren’t broken.
Physical Punishment of Children
In Scotland, the law protects children and young people from any physical punishment.
Children (Equal Protection from Assault)(Scotland) Act 2019
You should not discipline your child in ways that involve hitting them, or beating them.
It is against our laws to punish children in a dangerous way such as:
• Shaking
• Hitting
• Using something to “punish” children (such as a shoe, belt, slipper)
Child Protection Services will investigate any signs that a child has been physically abused. These dangerous forms of physical punishment are against the law in Scotland.
Children left alone
You should never leave young children alone, not even for a short period of time.
The Police will investigate (and legal action may be taken) if a child is injured or harmed because they have been left alone.
• Always leave your child in the care of an adult you trust.
• You should always make sure that anyone who looks after your child is responsible and that you trust them.
• Never leave your child with a stranger.
Children and Work
In Scotland, children under the age of 13 are not allowed to work. No child under 16 may be employed before 7am or after 7pm.
Children under 16 are not allowed to work more than 2 hours a day on any day, excluding Saturday, when they are allowed to work up to 5 hours (if under 15) or 8 hours (if 15 or over).
Children cannot work during school hours and can only work 1 hour before school begins. It is prohibited for children to work in any industrial places (including factories and building sites) or in any work that is likely to harm their health, wellbeing or education.
Female Genital Mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) also known as 'female circumcision' or 'cutting' is a crime in Scotland.
The Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (Scotland) Act 2005 means it is a criminal offence to have female genital mutilation carried out in Scotland or abroad. The maximum penalty for carrying out FGM is 14 years imprisonment.
Female Genital Mutilation is extremely harmful. It can cause long-term mental and physical suffering. It violates human rights and is illegal in Scotland.
Forced Marriage
Forced marriage is illegal in Scotland and is considered to be an abuse of human rights.
The Police will investigate if a crime has been reported where a child or young person has been forced to marry against their wishes.
Children who are forced into marriage or subjected to emotional, physical or sexual abuse as a result, are protected by law and abuse will be investigated by Child Protection Services.
Sexual Activity and Young People
It is an offence in Scotland for adults to have sexual relationships with children under the age of 16. If this is suspected, it must be reported to the Police so that the young person concerned can be properly protected.
“Grooming” is when adults may contact and make friends with a child or young person so that they can sexually abuse them. If you believe that your child or another child is being contacted in this way, get advice and support and always report this to the Police.
Young people have a right to receive Health Education covering healthy romantic relationships, consent and protection. This is recognised by the Education and Health Services in Scotland.
Children and Begging
In Scotland, it is illegal for parents and people who look after children to allow children to beg.
It is a crime to make or allow children under the age of 16 to beg.
Parents may be prosecuted should they allow their children to beg. It is likely that if members of the public see children begging, they will tell the Police.
Your Responsibility
If you are a parent or caregiver, you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of your children.
It is important in Scotland that the conduct of family life is usually left to parents and family members. However, it is equally important that protecting children and young people and keeping them safe and well is a priority for everyone.
If you need to talk to someone about any of the topics that have just been discussed, a list of agencies and their contact details have been shared below.
The Family Information Service provides free, comprehensive information about all
services for children and families in Aberdeen.
Aberdeen City Social Work Reception Team and Out-of-hours Social Work - 0800 7315 520
Emergency services: Police, Fire Service, Ambulance – 999
Police (Non Emergency) - 101
Health Services NHS 24 (open 24 hours) - 111
Childline - 0800 1111
Parentline - 08000 282 233
What is Child Protection?
Child protection means protecting a child from child abuse or neglect. Abuse or neglect need not have taken place; it is sufficient for a risk assessment to have identified a likelihood or risk of significant harm from abuse or neglect. There are many forms of abuse and neglect. In Scotland these are covered in four main areas:
- Physical abuse - Physical abuse is the causing of physical harm to a child or young person. Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child they are looking after.
- Emotional abuse - Emotional abuse is persistent emotional neglect or ill treatment that has severe and persistent adverse effects on a child's emotional development. It may involve
- conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve the imposition of age - or developmentally - inappropriate expectations on a child. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger, or exploiting or corrupting children.
- Sexual abuse - Sexual abuse is any act that involves the child in any activity for the sexual gratification of another person, whether or not it is claimed that the child either consented or assented. Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
- Neglect - Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or failure to respond to, a child's basic emotional needs.
Information available below:
- Online Safety
- Alcohol and Drugs
- Treatment for Drug Dependence
- Child Sexual Exploitation
- Sex Offender Community Disclosure Scheme
- Disclosure scheme for domestic abuse
- Understanding your child as they grow and develop
- Mind of my Own
- Family member or loved one affected by criminal justice
- Equal Protection Act
- Club 10
Online Safety
The Lucy Faithfull Foundation has developed a guide for parents and carers to help answer some of the immediate questions they may have after learning about something that is happening, or has happened, in their child’s online life.
CEOP and the National Crime Agency have created up to date guides for parents and professionals to learn about current social media trends among young people. The guides are written in a simple and effective way that answer common questions adults have about popular apps and highlight potential risks that come with using certain forms of social media.
Samaritans - Online Safety - Guidance on staying safe online, co-designed by young people with lived experience of self-harm and suicidal feelings and experience of supporting others at risk.
Alcohol and Drugs - A.D.A.M (Another's Drinking Affects Me)
The A.D.A.M. website is for children and young people aged 11-16 years who may be affected or are concerned by another person's drinking (this could be a Mum, Dad, a grandparent, brother, sister or friend).
A.D.A.M. has been developed in consultation with young people who have experienced harm as a result of someone else's drinking and offers an opportunity to explore IF and HOW they are being affected. There are over 51,000 children and young people in Scotland living with a parent who has an alcohol problem. Many will suffer in silence and may find it difficult to talk about what is happening at home. A.D.A.M. offers suggestions on how to cope and provides sources of help and support.
You can also access posters, cards and other resources.
Treatment of Drug Dependence - What You Need to Know
NHS Grampian have produced this leaflet to provide information for families and significant others.
Treatment of drug dependence - what you need to know
Child Sexual Exploitation
The National Crime Agency's Child Exploitation and Online Protection command (formerly the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) works with child protection partners across the UK and overseas to identify the main threats to children and co-ordinates activity against these threats to bring offenders to account. They protect children from harm online and offline, directly through NCA led operations and in partnership with local and international agencies.
Disclosure scheme for Domestic Abuse
The Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland aims to prevent domestic abuse by empowering both men and women with the right to ask about the background of their partner, potential partner or someone who is in a relationship with someone they know, and there is a concern that the individual may be abusive.
Sex Offender Community Disclosure Scheme
Community disclosure enables parents, carers or guardians of children under 18 years old to make a formal request for the disclosure of information about a named person who may have contact with their child if they are concerned that he or she might be a registered child sexual offender.
Sex Offender Community Disclosure Scheme Leaflet
Mind of my own
Mind Of My Own believe that every child should be able to give voice to their lived experience – and be heard. They create fully accessible apps that provide a unique digital solution to advancing universal children’s rights; they are the only digital tool that comprehensively supports Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Mind Of My Own aim for all children’s voices to be heard and they co-produce their apps with young people. There are two apps included in Mind Of My Own that allow for the app to be accessible to as many care experienced young people as possible.
With the use of Mind Of My Own, users can help overcome feelings of anxiety, isolation or loneliness by sending their worker a statement , which will be received by email, to let them know how the child or young person is feeling and allow them to feel connected and their vies listened to.
The app can be downloaded from an app store or by creating an account at mind of my own. This is a quick 3 step process, young people who wish to use the app independently are required to have access to a email to have an account. Children and young people if they do not have access to a email can be supported to use this alongside their worker on their profile.
Speaking about the use of Mind Of My Own in Aberdeen City Council, Andrea McGill, Service Manager, Integrated Children and Family Services said:
“As a local authority we are currently finding better ways of involving our children and young people more directly in their care planning. We were aware that the paper-based system being used was underutilised, with the young people feeling it was not the best system for them. Mind Of My Own offers better ways to engage with our young people in care and with care experienced in real time and in a relevant way.”
Children and young people are using the apps as an alternative way to vocalise problems and acknowledge good things in their life to celebrate.
A young person in Aberdeen who is currently using the app, said:
“Having the Mind Of My Own app has really helped because often when I have a problem, I need it fixed NOW but it can’t always be because my workers are busy or off, or it’s a weekend… So even if I’m having a tough day and feel like it can’t wait, I can rest easy knowing that my worker will see the report I sent via the app first thing in the morning or when they get to work and then it can start to be sorted. It also helps me because sometimes it’s hard for me to describe what’s happening or why I’m struggling… so writing it for someone to read makes it easier. The emojis help too because expressing how I’m feeling is something I find hard, I tend to hide it until I can’t cope anymore.”
If you are a child, young person or professional and have a question regarding Mind Of My Own please contact our local lead Megan Geddes at MeGeddes@aberdeencity.gov.uk. In addition to this Mind of My Own have a free resource which can be accessed, this has a number of video demonstrations and recorded workshops both including the views of young people and professionals.
Family member or loved one affected by criminal justice
If you have questions about a family member or loved one being sent to prison or being released, you can find support via the Families Outside website.
Equal Protection Act
The law on all forms of physical punishment of children in Scotland has changed. On 7 November 2020, all forms of physical punishment of children became against the law in Scotland. Find out more in our Equal Protection Factsheet (PDF).
Frequently asked questions about the new Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019.
Read the guide on the new law about physically punishing a child.
Club 10
As part of the Stronger Families Inside Out programme, Club 10 is open to families in Aberdeen affected by a family member being in prison. Click here for more information.