What guidance it provides to child protection committees on involving grassroots survivor-led organisations in the development and review o…

The Scottish Government's National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland and Guidance outlining Child Protection Committee and Chief Officer responsibilities make clear that protecting children is a shared responsibility involving statutory agencies, third-sector organisations and communities.The guidance for Child Protection Committees promotes meaningful engagement with children, young people and families, including drawing on lived experience to inform service development and improvement. It also sets the expectation that Child Protection Committees work collaboratively with relevant local partners. The guidance is clear that third sector organisations should be involved in prevention and early intervention plans and strategies as well as being represented at the Child Protection Committee. Local areas are responsible for determining which organisations are best placed to contribute to safeguarding arrangements in response to local circumstances and needs, including in rural communities.The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific national assessment of the extent to which grassroots survivor-led organisations are involved in the development and review of local safeguarding and referral procedures in rural communities, and information on such involvement is not routinely collected nationally.