SCIL (Screener for intelligence and mild intellectual disability)

Child Protection Board

The SCIL is a short test to recognise whether there is an indication of mild intellectual disability (LVB) in someone aged 14 years and over. The result of the SCIL is calculated using an algorithm. The SCIL helps council staff to quickly see if someone needs extra support. Examples: extra guidance during community service or adapted counselling.

Last change on 4th of June 2025, at 8:09 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: Field not filled in.
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Law

Begin date

2018-01

Contact information

[e-mail]

Link to publication website

https://www.kinderbescherming.nl/over-ons/ons-werk-in-aantallen/jaarberichten/kijk-op-kinderbescherming-2018/jongeren-met-lvb

Link to source registration

https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.12310

Responsible use

Goal and impact

The SCIL helps the RvdK get an early indication of a mild intellectual disability in a young person and/or parent. This is important when assessing parenting skills and the need for additional support/appropriate interventions.

Considerations

Many parents and young people with LVB are not recognised. This can result in an approach not fitting well with their abilities. By using the SCIL, the RvdK can ensure appropriate support and advice. Permission to take the SCIL is always requested in advance.

Human intervention

The SCIL is always administered by a professional within the RvdK. The result helps to assess the situation, but a Council investigator always interprets the outcome. If necessary, a behavioural expert can be consulted about the outcome.

Risk management

What are the risks?

1. Misinterpretation: Results may be misjudged

2. Privacy violation: There is a chance that the result of the SCIL will be shared, not in accordance with the AVG

3. Misjudgement: The SCIL is an indication of LVB, not a diagnosis

4. Social impact: Misjudgement can impact on youth protection measures and criminal justice interventions

5. Language difficulties: The test is not suitable for people who do not speak sufficient Dutch. This can lead to misinterpretations

6. Stigma: People may feel unfairly labelled.

How are risks mitigated?

1. Council staff receive training in administering and interpreting the SCIL. The SCIL score is only used to supplement other information.

2.Data on the SCIL score should only be stored and shared according to the AVG.

3. See 1

4. Multiple Council staff are involved in making the advice and information is used from multiple sources.

5. The SCIL is not administered to people who do not have sufficient command of the Dutch language.

6. When interpreting the result of the SCIL, there is always human intervention. The RVDK uses the SCIL to provide appropriate advice.

Legal basis

The law defines the duties and powers of the RvdK. These are carried out by the RvdK on behalf of the Minister of Justice. An order in council regulates the organisation of the RvdK, including its working methods.

The duties of the RvdK with regard to protection are laid down in separate statutory provision. Civil Code Book 1, Title 13, Section 3 contains special provisions on the CoC. In this context, articles 1:238 and 1:241 of the Civil Code are relevant, among others. Civil Code Book 1, Title 14, Section 4 deals with the supervision of minors. Important provisions are Art. 1:255 BW, 1:257 BW, Art. 1:265a/1:265b BW, Art. 1:265e BW and 1:265j BW.

Civil Code Book 1, Title 14, Section 5 contains provisions on termination of parental authority. In this context, Articles 1:266/1:267 and 1:268 of the Civil Code, among others, are relevant. Title 14, Section 6 of Book 1 of the Civil Code contains provisions on guardianship. Other sections of Title 14 of Book 1 of the Civil Code also contain important provisions for the RvdK. For example, the RvdK can be called in in case of open custody, lack of competence of the parent(s) with custody, in case of a request for custody by an educator (non-parent) and in case of a request for restoration of parental authority.

Furthermore, Chapter 6 of the Youth Act includes provisions on closed youth care for serious growing-up and parenting problems. Art. 6.1.2 of the Youth Act is an important provision and describes the grounds justifying placement in a closed institution.

The duties of the RvdK with regard to juvenile criminal cases are also laid down in separate statutory provision. Book 1, Title VIII A Sr, art. 77aSr - art. 77gg Sr, contains special criminal provisions for juveniles and young adults. In this context, art. 77w, section 2 of the Sr is relevant. Book 4, Title II and Book 6 of the Code of Criminal Procedure contain provisions on criminal proceedings against juveniles. Art. 490 Sv, artt. 494/494a/498 Sv and art. 6:3:9 Sv contain important tasks and powers of the RvdK.

With regard to G&O, the RvdK conducts investigations at the request of the judge. The RvdK advises the court on decisions concerning parental authority (art. 1:251a paragraph 3), the division of care and upbringing tasks, the main residence of the children, the duty of the parent providing care to the other parent to inform and consult, contact with the parent without parental authority and contact with third parties (art. 810 Rv).

Links to legal bases

• artikelen 1:238/1:241 BW: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0002656&boek=1&titeldeel=13&afdeling=3&z=2024-01-01&g=2024-01-01
• artikel 1:251a lid 3 BW: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0002656&boek=1&titeldeel=14&afdeling=2&paragraaf=1&artikel=251a&z=2024-01-01&g=2024-01-01
• artikelen 1:255/1:257/1:265a/1:265b/1:265e/1:265j BW: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0002656&boek=1&titeldeel=14&afdeling=4&z=2024-01-01&g=2024-01-01
• artikelen 1:266/1:267 BW: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0002656&boek=1&titeldeel=14&afdeling=5&z=2024-01-01&g=2024-01-01
• Titel 14, Afdeling 6 van Boek 1 van het Burgerlijk Wetboek: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0002656&boek=1&titeldeel=14&afdeling=6&z=2024-01-01&g=2024-01-01
• artikel 6.1.2 van de Jeugdwet : https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0034925&hoofdstuk=6&paragraaf=6.1&artikel=6.1.2&z=2025-01-01&g=2025-01-01
• artikel 77w, lid 2 Sr : https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001854&boek=Eerste&titeldeel=VIII_A&z=2025-01-01&g=2025-01-01
• artikelen 490/494/494a/498 Sv: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001903&boek=Vierde&titeldeel=II&afdeling=Tweede&artikel=490&z=2025-02-04&g=2025-02-04
• artikel 6:3:9 Sv: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001903&boek=6&hoofdstuk=3&titeldeel=Derde&artikel=6:3:9&z=2025-02-04&g=2025-02-04
• artikel 810 Rv: https://wetten.overheid.nl/jci1.3:c:BWBR0001827&boek=Derde&titeldeel=Zesde&afdeling=Eerste&artikel=810&z=2025-03-08&g=2025-03-08

Elaboration on impact assessments

A DPIA is not necessary because we do not process personal data. There is no risk to data subjects.

Operations

Data

The test uses answers to 14 questions on:

Education and counselling history

Contact with family and social support

Arithmetic skills and language comprehension

Technical design

Each questionnaire is completed on a self-scoring form. Taking the questionnaire takes five to 10 minutes. Calculating the score takes at most two minutes. The score indicates whether an LVB may be present. The process is as follows:

1. A staff member asks a parent or young person 14 questions.

2. The answers are filled in on a form.

3. The score is calculated based on a fixed table.

4. The behaviourist determines whether further investigation is needed.

External provider

The SCIL was developed by the following scientists: Hendrien Kaal, Henk Nijman and Xavier Moonen and is published by Hogrefe Publishers. Hogrefe Uitgevers is a scientific publisher.