Child Protection Committee

Each council in Scotland has its own Child Protection Committee and in line with Scottish Government legislation, policy and guidance, each Child Protection Committees functions are:

• continuous improvement
• public information, engagement and participation
• strategic planning and connections
• annual reporting on its work

The Child Protection Committee (CPC) is a strategic, multi-agency, child protection partnership bringing together senior representatives from the public, private and third sectors across the Western Isles.  This includes our education and children’s services; housing services; legal services; NHS Western Isles; Police Scotland; the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA); the local voluntary / third sector; young people’s representatives and other key local organisations.

Membership of the CPC is wide-ranging to reflect the scope of the local children’s services landscape across public, private and third sectors in the Western Isles.  Membership is also kept under constant review.

In February 2019, The Scottish Government published Protecting Children and Young People: Child Protection Committee and Chief Officer Responsibilities Guidance (Scottish Government: February 2019) which describes the functions of Child Protection Committees as:

• continuous improvement
• public information, engagement and participation
• strategic planning and connections
• annual reporting on the work of the Child Protection Committee

The Child Protection Committee oversees the creation, development, publication, distribution, delivery, embedding and evaluation (including quality assurance and self-evaluation) of all child protection policy and practice matters across the Outer Hebrides.