England Children Legislation, Statutory Guidance, Good Practice Guidance, and Regulatory Authorities.

The Department of Education (DfE) In England the DfE holds responsibility for child protection. It sets out the legislation, statutory guidance and policy for safeguarding children in all settings and situations.

The local safeguarding partners  are the relevant:

  • local authority
  • clinical commissioning group
  • police

To find your local council, use this link;  Report Child Abuse to Social Care or dial 999 if an emergency

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

SAFEcic DBS guides and purchasing

Free 30 minute consultation with a SAFEcic expert


LEGISLATION

All Legislation - Government website where you can search all UK Legislation. Below are links to many that are directly relevant to Safeguarding;


ALL and MULTI-AGENCY SECTORS

The Children Act 1989 Brought many different laws together and is now the law on which the current child protection system is based

Children Act 1989 (Amendment) (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2019

Children Act 2004 A legislative framework for cooperation between agencies working to safeguard children and includes the role of Commissioner for children in England

Communications Act 2003

Coronavirus Act 2020

Data Protection Act 1989

Data Protection Act 2018

Domestic Abuse Act 2021

Education and Skills Act 2008

Equality Act 2010

Health and Care Act 2022

Human Rights Act 1998

Modern Slavery Act 2015

The Police Act 1997 (Criminal Record Certificates: Relevant Matters) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

Public Interest Disclosure Act 1989

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020

Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Serious Crime Act 2015 Part 5 of this Act is about Protection of Children etc

Sexual Offences Act 2003

Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019

EDUCATION

Children, Schools and Families Act 2010

Education Act 2005

The Education Act 2011

The Education Act 2002 Includes a provision (section 175) requiring school governing bodies, local education authorities and further education institutions to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Regulations made under section 157 state that proprietors of independent schools (which include Academies and Free schools) must make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils and in doing so must have regard to any statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State. 

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Children and Social Work Act 2017 

OTHER

Gambling Act 2005

Licensing Act 2003


STATUTORY GUIDANCE

ALL and MULTI-AGENCY SECTORS

Multi-agency statutory guidance on female genital mutilation July 2020 

Mandatory Reporting of Female Genital Mutilation – procedural information 2019

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 updated December 2020

Revised Prevent Duty Guidance: for England and Wales April 2019 

The Right to Choose: Multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with forced marriage 2010 updated 2014

Statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care January 2014

EDUCATION

Department for Education all statutory guidance for schools

 Including

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Department for Health and Social Care all Regulations and Guidance

OTHER

 CPS So-Called Honour-Based Abuse and Forced Marriage Legal Guidance updated July 2019


GOOD PRACTICE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE

ALL and MULTI-AGENCY SECTORS

DBS filtering guide November 2020

Governemt Guidance for Parents and Carers on safeguarding children in out of school settings

Keeping children safe during community activities, after-school clubs and tuition: Non-statutory guidance for providers running out-of-school settings

Female Genital Mutilation Prosecution Guidance updated October 17th 2019

Child exploitation disruption toolkit April 15th 2019 (England and Wales)

Reducing the Need for Restraint and Restrictive Intervention: Children and young people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum conditions and mental health difficulties in health and social care services and special education settings June 2019 

Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers July 2018

Criminal Exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: County Lines guidance 2018

Child sexual exploitation: Definition and a guide for practitioners, local leaders and decision makers working to protect children from child sexual exploitation February 2017 

FGM safeguarding pathway 2017

Whistleblowing: Prescribed persons guidance 2017

Victims of modern slavery – frontline staff guidance 2016

What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused Advice for practitioners March 2015

Safeguarding children who may have been trafficked - Practice guidance 2011

EDUCATION

Department for Education all Guidance and Regulation

Including

To be read alongside the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education

HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

NHS England Safeguarding app

Whistleblowing Helpline for the NHS and Social Care Telephone 08000 724725

Department for Health and Social Care all Regulations and Guidance

Safeguarding in general dental practice April 3rd 2019 (England)

Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff 2019

Protecting children and young people: The responsibilities of all doctors 2018

Child abuse and neglect: NICE guideline [NG76] Published date: October 2017


REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

For Education

Ofsted all Regulation and Guidance

 Including 

The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) Inspection Framework 2018

For Health and Social Care 

Care Quality Commission (CQC) all Regulation and Guidance

  Including

Charity Commission

Charity Commission all Guidance and Regulation

Including


Additional Links to Research and Reports

Research and Reports

Research and Reports