Care and protection in Scottish child welfare: evidence of double jeopardy?

Abstract

Since the inception of the Scottish children's hearings system, an increasing concentration of child care and protection referrals has emerged. Data on 225 children referred on care and protection grounds are examined. Children faced a double jeopardy of personal adversity against a background of social and economic disadvantage. A smaller group of children were also victims of an offence by an adult. A significant proportion of children had multiple referrals suggesting a recycling of some children. Social adversity in the backgrounds of children has been found in other child welfare studies. The significance accorded to this by social work agencies and the links between neglect and poverty may be overlooked. The importance of policy that provides comprehensive public assistance and services, as found in other European countries, is an inescapable conclusion.

Keywords:

• Children's Hearings
• Abuse
• Neglect
• Law
• Justice
• Poverty
• Child Protection

Notes

1. The sheriff principal has the duty to ensure that the sheriff courts’ business is carried out in an efficient manner.

2. These were re-enacted with some minor changes and additions in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

3. Percentages throughout the report have been rounded to one decimal point: totals do not always equal 100%. Valid percentages are reported throughout. These are calculated on the number of actual responses to a particular survey question and exclude missing information. Thus where information is complete n=225 but where information is missing n= is reduced by the number of missing responses to individual questions. This allows the reader to place the percentage findings in context.