THE controversial 'state guardian' scheme is facing a crisis before it has even begun after an advice centre designed to guide those monitoring Scottish children was threatened with closure.
From 31 August of this year, a "named person" will be appointed to monitor the welfare of every child in Scotland.
But experts claim moves to slash funding for a centre of child protection expertise would "cut the feet" from under the contentious named persons scheme.
Fears have been raised that WithScotland, which would be help advise named persons such as teachers, midwives or health visitors, will be forced to close if the Scottish Government withdraw £150,000 of annual funding.
WithScotland provides a national repository for research and experience in child protection investigations and setting it up was one of the key recommendations of the 2005 failed investigation into child abuse in the Western Isles.
Donald Urquhart, former chair of Glasgow's Child Protection Committee, said in a letter to the Scottish Government's director for children's rights and wellbeing that the planned funding cut "flies in the face of logic".
He said: "The loss of WithScotland would be a seriously retrograde step and leave Named Persons, who now have been given frontline child protection responsibilities, without a valuable and unique source of support information or advice."
With an increasing emphasis on the importance of named persons in picking up serious child protection concerns means they will need independent advice and support from experts in the field, he said.
"The Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 provisions in respect of the named person is costing many millions that councils and health boards just don't have so where are the named persons going to get the advice, information and support that they need?"
He said the child protection community included senior figures in social work, health and education, many of whom were calling for a meeting with the Scottish Government to discuss the funding cut, and is calling for ministers to reconsider.
"It is the view of a number of the members of the Community of Expertise that this is a service we cannot afford to lose," he added.
Colin McKerracher, former chief constable of Grampian Police and chair of the North East of Scotland Child Protection Committee, also voiced concern about the funding cut to WithScotland.
"I think this is very short sighted on the part of the Government, and seems ludicrous given the small sums of money involved," he said.
"Child protection is still one of the most sensitive issues we face. The introduction of named persons is another sensitive development beginning to move forward and WithScotland is able to reach people across the country, disseminate findings of serious case reviews, pick up and share experiences of complex cases. It will leave a huge gap if it cannot continue and I just can't believe civil servants would be advising ministers to pull the plug," he added.
A governmeent spokeswoman denied there had been any reduction in funding to child protection. She added: "The Scottish Government regularly reviews how its grant support can have the greatest impact and ensure we provide the best level of support."
In February, it announced a 'comprehensive' programme aimed at improving the child protection system.
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