SCAIDP is a national learning programme for anyone working, or aspiring to work, as a Specialist Child Abuse Investigator (SCAI). The learning programme is also aimed at supervisors who manage staff, processes, review and support SCAIs and managers who have tactical and strategic leadership in the area of child abuse investigation.
The overall purpose of SCAIDP is to equip SCAIs with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to be able to conduct professional, objective and thorough child abuse investigations, while maintaining an approach that recognises and acknowledges the concerns and needs of all parties involved.
The aims of SCAIDP are to develop an understanding of:
• The range of child development theories and vulnerabilities in the context of abuse.
• Sexual offending behaviour including grooming and how to apply this knowledge to child abuse investigations.
• A sensitive, ethical and anti-discriminatory approach through policing principles in identifying, assessing and responding to allegations, suspicions or complaints of child abuse and evaluating risk factors within the investigation.
• The multi-agency working approach: the practices, policy, procedures and legislation that bind the working relationship together in child abuse investigations.
• Specialist interviewing and application of specific interviewing techniques for child victims in child abuse investigations.
• Investigation techniques, approaches and considerations when dealing specifically with a child abuse investigation.