The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Phil Raines is the Head of the Child Protection Policy Team in the Scottish Government and is leading the work around the change and updating of the Scottish Child Protection guidelines. Over his seven years in the Scottish civil service and prior to his current role, he has also held posts in European Structural Funds and economic strategy implementation. His presentation title is: "the Scottish context: gaps in understanding what’s effective in meeting children’s needs for care and protection"

The evaluation of everyday multi-professional intervention to safeguard and promote the well-being of vulnerable children is limited and restricts both operational planning and professional intervention. The core aim of this programme are to contribute to the development of a platform that will support better understanding of the routes from intervention to outcomes for vulnerable children through utilising administrative datasets and longitudinal research. Paul is presently seconded from Glasgow social work where he works as a researcher in the child protection team. His work in Glasgow involves research and evaluation projects contributing to the development of evidence based practice in a variety of child protection areas in the city - these have included the use of computer assisted interviewing for gathering the views of children; the use of the Graded Care Profile as an assessment of neglect and the interface between child protection and criminal justice and addictions services. Paul is presently involved in the development of policy and research initiatives in relation to child trafficking in Glasgow. He has also worked in a research capacity in a Community Justice Authority and various local authorities designing and managing youth and criminal justice practice evaluations. Prior to entering the world of research Paul was a social worker and senior in a criminal justice team in Edinburgh, including a short secondment to the Scottish Executive criminal justice policy development. His presentation title is: Current data collection and linkage in Glasgow Child Protection Committee area.

Working With Parental Mental Health Problems. Contemporary issues in child protection seminar series, Bryony Beresford at University of Stirling