CivTech 12.5 - How can technology support multi agency processes for the protection of children in Scotland?

Overview

This Challenge presents an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference in protecting children in Scotland from harm, an area of the highest priority for the Scottish Cabinet and partners. Scotland’s child protection system relies on Inter-Agency Referral Discussions (IRDs) to make timely safeguarding decisions for children (over 17,000 IRDs took place during 2024-25). IRDs are effective and work well as a process, however they are currently supported by fragmented IT systems, manual processes and localised records. This results in duplication, delays, and barriers to information sharing across agencies and local authorities. These inefficiencies increase administrative burden, reducing time available for direct support to children and families. The Scottish Government, Police Scotland and the National Social Work Agency (TBC) are seeking innovative solutions that will enable secure streamlined multi-agency information sharing for the existing IRD process, as well as providing real-time local and national data to improve child protection outcomes across Scotland.