Children’s Services Social Work, which sits within the Education & Children’s Service Directorate, is a continually evolving and improving service designed to deliver high-quality assistance and support to children and families in need and/or at risk of harm. We deliver a robust, integrated framework to support child wellbeing through prevention, protection, and participation, underpinned by a strong multi-agency collaboration.
Our values reflect the way the service operates, and we want every child in Aberdeenshire to grow up safe, healthy and happy. Our Children’s Social Work Service is here to support families and to make sure children get the help they need, when they need it. We are a trauma informed service and committed to delivering the service with kindness, dignity, and compassion.
At any one time the Children’s Social Work Service provides support to around 2500 children and young people across Aberdeenshire with the ambition of safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children, young people and their families.
What Our Children’s Social Work Service Provides:
Support for Vulnerable Children & Families
We have 12 local area Children and Families teams throughout Aberdeenshirewho offer direct statutory support to children and their families, and who work closely with partners to protect children at risk of harm.
Support for Children with Disabilities & Additional Needs
Children and young people with disabilities can access tailored support, if assessed as required, including self‑directed support options that can help families shape the support that works best for them.
Fostering, Adoption & Kinship Care
We recruit, assess, and support foster carers, adoptive parents, and kinship carers. Our aim is to offer safe, nurturing and stable homes for children who cannot live with their birth families.
Throughcare & Aftercare
Young people leaving care are supported to build independence, access education and employment, secure accommodation, and maintain good health and wellbeing.
Children’s Rights and Participation
Our Children’s Rights Service helps children understand their rights, ensures their voices are heard, and produces regular newsletters and resources to promote participation.
Well Being Team
The Children’s Wellbeing Team provide direct therapeutic support to care experienced young people struggling with their mental wellbeing.
Unaccompanied Asylum-seeking Children Team
Our UASC team support our unaccompanied young people to feel safe and supported in Aberdeenshire, building a sense of community and hope for their future.
Intensive Support Team
Our Intensive support team work in collaboration with our area teams to provide intensive family support and early intervention often beyond traditional office hours to ensure timely effective responses to crises making support accessible when it is most needed.
Youth Services Team
Our Youth Services team provides support to young people aged 11 to 26. Young people who are in conflict with the law; who may require additional support and whose living situations may be at risk of breakdown; they also offer diversionary actions for young people who may require support to develop new skills.
Out of Hours Emergency Service
Our out of hours team provides social work support out with office hours to those in need or in crises.
Four Residential Children’s Homes
Aberdeenshire’s residential children’s homes provide safe, nurturing, relationship‑based care for up to 17 young people across the four homes. A careful matching process helps ensure that each young person’s needs are well supported within the home environment. A fifth home, opening in summer 2026, will offer care for up to four additional young people.
As well as contributing towards our key GIRFEC and Child Protection processes within Aberdeenshire Community Planning Partnership, our service specific priorities are –
- Safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children, young people and their families by:
- Assessing risk and providing protection from harm.
- Assessing need and working in partnership with families and other services to help children have the best start in life, recover from adversity and realise their potential.
- Improving and modernising service design and delivery.
- Developing a competent and confident, trauma informed Children’s Services workforce that delivers on the outcome of the Care Review – The Promise.
Need Help or Advice?
Call us during office hours: 9am–5pm
Out of hours: 03456 08 1206
Visit your local Family Resource Centre for friendly support.
The Whole Family Wellbeing Team
Working across the Peterhead and Fraserburgh areas, this team provides flexible, community based groups and drop ins to support families. Delivered by Family Outreach Workers, the service helps build connections, reduce isolation, and respond to additional needs and kinship care. Support is shaped by local priorities and strengthened through partnership working, adaptability, and an inclusive, family centred approach.
Although this Team sits within Social Work, our workers are not Social Workers nor do they share information with Social Work, this is an optional service that families can access as and when they wish to.