The Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committee Annual Report 2024 to 2025 was presented to the Education and Children’s Services Committee, which met on 26 March 2026. The Committee formally noted the breadth and impact of the work undertaken by the Child Protection Committee and thanked members and partners for their sustained commitment to protecting children and […]
The Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committee Annual Report 2024 to 2025 was presented to the Education and Children’s Services Committee, which met on 26 March 2026. The Committee formally noted the breadth and impact of the work undertaken by the Child Protection Committee and thanked members and partners for their sustained commitment to protecting children and young people across Aberdeenshire. Click here to download the full report.
The Aberdeenshire Child Protection Committee has published its Annual Report for 2024 to 2025, providing a comprehensive overview of the work undertaken across the partnership to protect children and young people from harm. The report reflects a year of significant activity, learning and collaboration, set against a backdrop of increasing complexity, workforce pressures and growing need. It demonstrates the collective commitment of education, health, social work, police and third sector partners to continuous improvement and to keeping children at the centre of all that we do.
A key theme throughout the report is the Committee’s focus on strategic leadership, quality assurance and learning. Through the Child Protection Improvement Plan 2023 to 2026, partners have maintained a clear focus on three priority areas: voice and participation, a confident and competent workforce, and older young people. Progress has been supported through robust use of data, audit activity, learning reviews and practitioner engagement, ensuring that improvement activity is informed by evidence and real practice experience.
One of the most significant developments during the year has been continued progress as a Scottish Government Bairns Hoose Pathfinder. The report highlights how Aberdeenshire is testing and developing a hub and spoke model to deliver a trauma-informed, child-centred response for children who have experienced abuse or significant harm. This work has strengthened coordination between child protection processes, the Scottish Child Interview Model and recovery support, helping to reduce trauma and improve children’s experiences of justice and care. The partnership with Children First has further enhanced advocacy, rights and recovery support for children and families navigating complex systems.
The Annual Report also evidences important improvements to core child protection processes. Inter-Agency Referral Discussions continue to be subject to regular multi-agency quality assurance, with learning used to refine practice and strengthen decision-making. The use of reconvened IRDs and closer alignment with Bairns Hoose standards has supported more coordinated planning and greater consideration of children and families’ views. The Scottish Child Interview Model is now well embedded in Aberdeenshire, with the vast majority of joint investigative interviews undertaken through SCIM, supporting both child protection and evidential outcomes.
Workforce learning and development remains a central priority for the Committee. The report outlines a wide range of multi-agency training delivered during the year, reaching over a thousand practitioners across topics such as trauma-informed practice, exploitation, domestic abuse, risk management and neglect. A comprehensive multi-agency training needs analysis has provided further insight into practitioner priorities, including mental health, online safety and when services find it hard to engage. This learning is shaping future training delivery to ensure it is relevant, accessible and grounded in local practice.
The Committee has also continued to strengthen its approach to public information, engagement and participation. This includes the development of parent and carer insight sessions, refreshed guidance and resources, and ongoing work to improve the accessibility of online information. Children and young people’s rights and participation remain a clear priority, particularly in the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child now being incorporated into Scots law. The report highlights meaningful engagement with children and young people, including their involvement in shaping Bairns Hoose environments and contributing to wider participation activity.
Learning reviews continue to play a vital role in understanding and improving the child protection system. The report sets out how learning is identified, shared and embedded across the CPC sub-group structure and the wider children’s services planning framework. Key themes such as information sharing, professional curiosity, thresholds, suicide and parental substance use are informing both immediate improvement actions and longer-term planning.
While the report recognises the progress made, it is clear that the Committee is not complacent. There is a strong acknowledgement of the ongoing challenges facing services and the need to continue strengthening practice, systems and workforce confidence. The coming year will focus on delivering the current Improvement Plan while beginning to shape priorities beyond 2026, ensuring that learning, evidence and the voices of children and practitioners continue to drive improvement.
The Annual Report provides assurance of a mature, reflective and committed partnership in Aberdeenshire. It is a testament to the dedication of practitioners and leaders across all agencies, whose collective efforts continue to make a difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.
