Children and families

Children's social work services

We believe that every child and young person deserves the best possible start in life.

We have established standards of care for children and young people needing social work services, and our aim is for Edinburgh's children to be safe, healthy, nurtured, educated, active and respected.

This means that for some young people and their families, they will need information, advice and support to deal with difficult situations at various stages in their lives.

These situations include: family relationships, parental substance misuse, problems at school, illness or disability, child protection and offending.

Our Children & Families Social Work Service provides a range of services to support children, young people and their families through such times.

These services include:

• Children's Practice Teams (including teams for Early Intervention, Social Work and Disabilities)
• Child and Family Centres (providing group care, pre-school education and support to families)
• Child protection
• Fostering, adoption and looked after children (including support for young people who are looked after and who have left care via the Throughcare and Aftercare service)
• Support for children with Additional Support Needs
• Other support for families
• Advice and complaints (we welcome any comments you have on our services)
• Programmes to reduce offending

How to contact us

If you are a member of the public

If you wish to make an enquiry or request from Children and Families Social Work Services or are concerned about a child's safety or welfare, please call Children & Families Social Care Direct on 0131 200 2327 - and not your local social work office.

We are ready to take your call between 08:30 - 17:00 Monday to Thursday, 08:30 - 15:40 Friday.

If you need to contact us outwith these hours, then please call Emergency Social Work Services on 0800 731 6969.

If you are a professional

If you wish to request a new service or assessment for child or young person, you should go to Children & Families Social Care Direct and complete the Service Request Form. A guidance note accompanies the form which, once submitted, will be screened through a single point of contact.

Please note: All Child Protection referrals and contact about children at immediate risk should be made to the Neighbourhood Access Points or Emergency Social Work Services at 0800 731 6969.