Child Protection

Every child and young person has a right to be safe, happy and healthy.

Orkney Child Protection Committee aims:

• To ensure that children who need care and protection get the right kind of help at the right time from the right people;
• To make the welfare of children and young people our paramount consideration when developing plans and services which affect them;
• To ensure that responsibilty is shared amongst all constituent agencies working together to plan and deliver services to protect children;
• To raise awareness of children's rights, so that the people of Orkney continue to recognise that protecting children is everyone's responsibility;
• To share information about chidlren where there is a concern about their safety within agreed standards of confidentiality;
• To consult with children and their families to support the development of our welfare and protection services;
• To support communities to protect children and help local communities to provide safer places for children to grow up in.

If you are a child or young person

You have a right to be safe, healthy and loved. The adults you live with at home have a responsibility to care for your needs and to keep you safe. If you are worried or afraid about anything that is happening at home, you can get help by clicking on the 'Children and Young People' link in the menu.

What to do if you are concerned about a child

We all have a responsibility to protect children, whether we are a parent, family member, neighbour or friend.

If you are concerned that a child or young person is being neglected or abused, please trust your instincts.  The important thing is to act on your concern and to tell someone.

More information about what to do if you are worried about a child or young person can be found by clicking on the 'Concerned About a Child' link in the menu.

The Orkney Child Protection Committee

The Orkney Child Protection Committee (CPC) is responsible for overseeing, co-ordinating and improving services to protect children and young people. It raises awareness of child protection issues, promotes the work of agencies in protecting children and provides information about what members of the public should do if they are concerned about a child.

More information can be found by clicking on 'The Orkney Child Protection Committee' link in the menu.