Published guidance, information and resources to help you

This public health emergency brings great challenges for everyone, especially children in need of care and protection, their families and carers, and those supporting them.

While the impact of this is felt by all, we know that it will further exacerbate the challenging circumstances of children, young people, parents, and carers who were already dealing with existing stresses and strains in their lives.

We have gathered together important guidance, information and resources to help many of the people we work with. Click on any of the links in the boxes below to find out more.

January 2022: All the latest COVID-19 information from the Scottish Government can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/coronavirus-covid-19/

Residential care

Guidance from the Scottish Government on getting tested in Scotland (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on staying safe and protecting others (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government for residential children’s houses, residential schools, secure care, and residential respite/short break facilities on staffing, social distancing and self-isolations (December 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government for managers, social workers and social care providers arranging contact between looked after and accommodated children and young people and their families (December 2021)

Advice from the Scottish Government for people at highest risk (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on reducing the risks in schools (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government for school age childcare services (January 2022)

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government on supporting children and young people with complex additional support needs (Jan 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government to private and third sector childcare providers and childminders on daycare services for children (October 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government to support childminding settings to operate safely. (January 2022)

Information from Social Work Scotland offering a framework for decision-makers to ensure children in public care maintain strong connections with family during COVID-19

Advice and help from the NSPCC if you are worried a child may be struggling with their mental health or has anxiety

Guidance from the British Psychological Society on supporting care experienced children and young people

Guidance and signposting from YouthLink Scotland for youth workers

Information from the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration on additional operating procedures for Children's Hearings (December 2021)

Information from Scottish Social Services Council for social services workers and employers

Information from the Children's Hearings Improvement Partnership explaining the use of emergency legislation for Children's Hearings

Information from Social Work Scotland on legislation, regulations, and guidance

Advice and updates from the Scottish and British Association of Social Workers

Adoption

Guidance from the Scottish Government on getting tested in Scotland (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on managing cases in schools and childcare settings (September 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on staying safe and protecting others (January 2022)

Advice from the Scottish Government for people at highest risk (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on reducing the risks in schools (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government for school age childcare services (January 2022)

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government on supporting children and young people with complex additional support needs (Jan 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government to early learning and childcare services (January 2022)

Information from the Scottish Government about COVID-19 testing for under-fives (July 2020)

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government to support the continued safe operation of Early Learning and Childcare settings (January 2022)

Advice from the British Government about ordering coronavirus rapid lateral flow tests for use at home (April 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on the safe implementation of practical activities in schools as young people return following the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on testing for Covid-19, including who is eligible for a test, how to get tested and the different types of test available (January 2022)

Advice from Adoption UK, offering a list of learning tools and resources for online learning for children

Advice from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for parents and carers of babies less than three months old during COVID-19

Information from Adoption UK Scotland on help and support available

Guidance from CoramBAAF on adoption, fostering, family placement, health and legal issues

Advice from Adoption and Fostering Alliance on virtual meetings of Adoption and Fostering Panels

Information from the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration on additional operating procedures for Children's Hearings (December 2021)

Information from the Children's Hearings Improvement Partnership on current arrangements for Children's Hearings

Advice and help from the NSPCC if you are worried a child may be struggling with their mental health or has anxiety

Advice and help from the NSPCC about keeping children safe online

Information from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families on supporting young people's mental health

Guidance from the British Psychological Society on supporting care experienced children and young people

Information from Enquire on how the new coronavirus laws affect the education of children with additional support needs in Scotland

Social workers

Guidance from the Scottish Government on getting tested in Scotland (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on staying safe and protecting others (January 2022)

Advice from the Scottish Government for people at highest risk (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on reducing the risks in schools (January 2022)

Guidance for Chief Officers, Chief Social Work Officers and Child Protection Committees on the continuity of services (December 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government for school age childcare services (January 2022)

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government for managers, social workers and social care providers arranging contact between looked after and accommodated children and young people and their families (December 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government to early learning and childcare services (January 2022)

Advice from the British Government about ordering coronavirus rapid lateral flow tests for use at home (April 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government guidance on reducing the risks in schools (January 2022)

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government on supporting children and young people with complex additional support needs (Jan 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on testing for Covid-19, including who is eligible for a test, how to get tested and the different types of test available (January 2022)

Information from Social Work Scotland on legislation, regulations, and guidance

Guidance from the Scottish Social Services Council to help social workers respond to COVID-19

Advice and updates from the Scottish and British Association of Social Workers

Information and guidance by Health Protection Scotland for social or community care and residential settings

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government on childcare closures and emergency provision (October 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government Guidance on home visits and direct contact interviews (December 2021)

Guidance from Social Work Scotland on a framework for decision-makers to ensure children in public care maintain strong connections with family

Guidance from the Scottish Government for central and local government and public bodies in Scotland with an overview of the key measures contained within Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2021

Guidance from the Scottish Government on Coronavirus testing for key workers who are showing symptoms (October 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on tackling violence against women and girls

Information from national, local and professional bodies in Scotland through a national wellbeing hub to support health and social care staff in Scotland

Information from the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration on additional operating procedures for Children's Hearings (December 2021)

Information from the Children's Hearings Improvement Partnership explaining the use of emergency legislation for Children's Hearings

Advice from the Adoption and Fostering Alliance on virtual meetings of Adoption and Fostering Panels

Advice and guidance from Scottish Social Services Council to help you look after your own wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others

Information from Social Work Scotland offering a framework for decision-makers to ensure children in public care maintain strong connections with family during COVID-19

Advice and help from the NSPCC if you are worried a child may be struggling with their mental health or has anxiety

Information from Enquire on how the new coronavirus laws affect the education of children with additional support needs in Scotland

Information from the European Social Network on social services responses to COVID-19 across Europe

Kinship care

Guidance from the Scottish Government on getting tested in Scotland (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on managing cases in schools and childcare settings (September 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on staying safe and protecting others (January 2022)

Advice from the Scottish Government for people at highest risk (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on reducing the risks in schools (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government for school age childcare services (January 2022)

Guidance from the Scottish Government on testing for COVID-19, including who is eligible for a test, how to get tested and the different types of test available (January 2022)

Advice from the British Government about ordering coronavirus rapid lateral flow tests for use at home (April 2021)

Guidance from the Scottish Government to early learning and childcare services (January 2022)

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government to support the continued safe operation of Early Learning and Childcare settings (January 2022)

Advice from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health for parents and carers of babies less than three months old during COVID-19

Information from the National Parent Forum Scotland for parents and carers

Information from the Scottish Government about COVID-19 testing for under-fives. (July 2020)

Advice and help from the NSPCC if you are worried a child may be struggling with their mental health or has anxiety

Advice and help from the NSPCC about keeping children safe online

Guidance from the British Psychological Society on supporting care experienced children and young people

Information from the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families on supporting young people's mental health

Information from Social Work Scotland offering a framework for decision-makers to ensure children in public care maintain strong connections with family during COVID-19

Information from the Children's Hearings Improvement Partnership explaining the use of emergency legislation for Children's Hearings

Information from the UK Government on claiming benefits from Universal Credit

Advice and guidance from the Scottish Government on supporting children and young people with complex additional support needs (Jan 2021)

Information from Social Security Scotland on Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods

Information from the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration on additional operating procedures for Children's Hearings (December 2021)

Information from Enquire on how the new coronavirus laws affect the education of children with additional support needs in Scotland

Foster care