Who do I contact about a child protection concern in Scotland?

Contact your local council's social work service, or Police Scotland on 101 (999 in an emergency). For advice and support you can call the Children First support line free on 08000 28 22 33. You do not need to be certain — professionals will help you work out whether a child needs support.

What is the Children's Hearings System?

It is Scotland's unique system for children who may need care or protection. Rather than a court, decisions are made by a Children's Hearing — a panel of trained volunteers — after the Children's Reporter (SCRA) decides a hearing is needed. Its focus is the child's welfare, not punishment.

What does GIRFEC mean?

GIRFEC stands for Getting It Right For Every Child — Scotland's national approach to promoting the wellbeing of children and young people, used across social work, schools, health, and the police.

Child Protection in Scotland: How the System Works

Q: Does Keeping Children Safe in Education apply in Scotland?

No. KCSIE is statutory guidance for schools in England only. Scottish schools follow GIRFEC and the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, along with the procedures of their local Child Protection Committee.

Scotland has its own child protection system, separate from England's. Here is how GIRFEC, the National Guidance for Child Protection, and the Children's Hearings System work — and who to contact.

Overview

Scotland does not use the England framework. There is no Keeping Children Safe in Education, no statutory 'Designated Safeguarding Lead', and no MASH. Instead, child wellbeing and protection are built around GIRFEC — Getting It Right For Every Child — the Scottish Government's national approach, and the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2021, updated 2023).

Day-to-day child protection is delivered by each council's social work service, working with Police Scotland and health services under a local Child Protection Committee. Scotland's most distinctive feature is the Children's Hearings System: where a child may need compulsory support or protection, the Children's Reporter (part of the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration, SCRA) decides whether to bring the child to a Children's Hearing — a tribunal of trained volunteer panel members that makes decisions in the child's best interests. It is not a criminal court.

What this means in plain English

In short

If you live in Scotland, the English terms you may read elsewhere — DSL, KCSIE, MASH, LADO — do not apply to you. Concerns about a child go to your local council's social work service or to Police Scotland, and schools follow GIRFEC and their local child protection procedures rather than KCSIE.

Who is involved

Local council social work services — the main point of contact for a child protection concern in Scotland.
Police Scotland — Scotland's single national police force (101 for non-emergencies, 999 in an emergency).
The Children's Reporter / SCRA — decides whether a child needs to be referred to a Children's Hearing.
Children's Hearings Scotland — the panel of trained volunteers who make decisions about a child's care and protection.
Schools and health services — working together under GIRFEC as the 'team around the child'.

What to expect

1
A concern is assessed by social work under GIRFEC, focusing on the child's wellbeing across eight indicators (the SHANARRI wellbeing wheel).
2
Where a child may need compulsory measures, the case is referred to the Children's Reporter, who decides whether to arrange a Children's Hearing.
3
A Children's Hearing is informal compared with a court: the child and family are present, and trained panel members make decisions about support or protection.
4
Most concerns are resolved through voluntary support and do not reach a hearing.

What you can do

Contact your local council's social work service to raise a concern about a child — every council publishes a social work contact and an out-of-hours emergency number.
Call Police Scotland on 101 (999 in an emergency) if a child is at immediate risk.
Call the Children First support line free on 08000 28 22 33 for advice and emotional support if you live in Scotland.
Ask your child's school about their child protection procedures — Scottish schools follow national and local child protection guidance, not KCSIE.

Common misconceptions

Myth: The English system — DSL, KCSIE, MASH — applies in Scotland.

Reality: It does not. Scotland has its own framework: GIRFEC and the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland, plus the Children's Hearings System. Scottish schools do not have a statutory 'Designated Safeguarding Lead' in the KCSIE sense.

Myth: A Children's Hearing is a criminal court that punishes the child.

Reality: A Children's Hearing is not a court and does not exist to punish. It is a tribunal of trained volunteer panel members focused entirely on the child's welfare and what support or protection they need.

Child Protection in Wales Child Protection in Northern Ireland After you report a concern Reporting: school safeguarding concern

External sources

Getting It Right For Every Child (GIRFEC) — Scottish Government
National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 — Scottish Government
Children's Hearings Scotland — Children's Hearings Scotland
Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) — SCRA

Frequently Asked Questions

Last reviewed: 2026-07-29Next review: 2027-01-29Reviewed against: KCSIE 2025, Working Together 2023

This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.