Orkney Child Protection Committee Training 

Guidance on Child Protection training reflects the requirements for different workforce groups based on the National Framework for Child Protection Learning and Development in Scotland 2012. A link to this document is available from the 'Related Sites' section of this page.

Each group will require different competencies, knowledge and skills, based on the nature and extent of their contact (direct or indirect) with children, young people or adults at risk.

Induction Training

Induction Training in child protection is provided for each new worker within their own agency. This is referred to as single agency training and is not provided by the Child Protection Committee. Before progressing to Step 1 training, which is Awareness Raising and Response, all participants should have completed induction training.

The workforce groups are as follows:

General Contact Workforce

Defined as those who, as part of their job are likely to come into contact with children, young people or adults who may be at risk. The frequency of the contact will vary, but these workers will not usually be involved in any in-depth personal work. However, these workers need to have the confidence and awareness to recognise when a child/young person or adult may be in need of protection, and how to respond.

• CPC recommends the NES Child Protection E-learning course in addition to ‘in-house’ induction and refresher training provided by single agencies.
• A CD- ROM is still available from CPC which provides information on the local context.

Specific Contact Workforce

Defined as those who carry out direct work with children, young people or adults at risk; and/or form more in-depth relationships with them; and/or provide specific services to them.

These workers may carry out regular work with a child, young person or adult at risk (although this will not always be the case).

These workers may be asked to contribute to the risk assessment and risk management process and may be involved in providing ongoing support to some children, young people, adults at risk and other family members.

The specific contact workforce require the competences, knowledge and skills associated with the general contact workforce, and some additional competences, knowledge skills to reflect the nature of their involvement with children, young people and adults at risk.

Step 2 training is a two day multi-agency course funded and delivered by the Child Protection Committee and includes adult protection training. The group of presenters is representative of the agencies that comprise the Child Protection Committee: there are presenters from Orkney Health and Care, Police Scotland, Education Services, the Voluntary Sector and the Orkney Children’s Reporter. In selecting staff to attend Step 2 training, managers should give priority to staff who have not previously attended a Child Protection training course at this level. It is not intended to function as a refresher course, although staff who last attended training at this level 5 years or more ago would find the training useful and can be referred for a place.

• Completion of the NES on-line course is required before attending the two day course.
• Please email us for dates of the next Step 2 course.

Intensive Contact Workforce

Defined as those who have specific designated responsibility for child or adult protection issues as part of their role. For example where this is linked to their post, or where they are the named person, lead professional, council officer; and/or those who will be involved in undertaking child or adult protection investigations or working with complex cases (for example providing particular forms of support relating directly to child or adult protection).

These workers require the competences, knowledge and skills associated with the general and specific contact workforces, but need additional competences, knowledge and skills to carry out their tasks.

• A two day multi-agency course funded and delivered by CPC. Completion of the NES on-line course is required before attending the two day course.
• "Signs of Safety" learning and training.
• Learning in relation to emerging issues in Child Protection such as Child Sexual Exploitation, Female Genital Mutilation, Trafficking, Online and digital safety.
• Joint Investigative Interview Training (Police and Social Work).

For more information please contact the Orkney Child Protection Committee secretary on Telephone: 01856873535 extension 2642.