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
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Public Interest Disclosure Act 1989
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
Serious Crime Act 2015 Part 5 of this Act is about Protection of Children etc
EDUCATION
Children, Schools and Families Act 2010
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
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
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
- Keeping Children Safe in Education September 2022 In force until September 1 2023
- Keeping Children Safe in Education September 1 2023 Embargoed Not in force until September 1 2023
- Behaviour in Schools September 2022
- Searching, Screening and Confiscation Advice for schools July 2022
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
Female Genital Mutilation Prosecution Guidance updated October 17th 2019
Child exploitation disruption toolkit April 15th 2019 (England and Wales)
Criminal Exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: County Lines guidance 2018
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
- Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence in Schools and Colleges September 2021
- Staffing and employment advice for schools Departmental advice for school leaders, governing bodies, academy trusts and local authorities January 2021
- Female Genital Mutilation: Guidance for schools: Understanding your role in safeguarding girls, engaging parents and teaching about FGM June 2019
- Teaching online safety in school June 2019 Guidance supporting schools to teach their pupils how to stay safe online, within new and existing school subjects
- Safeguarding children affected by parental alcohol and drug use Guidance December 2018
- Preventing and tackling bullying advice for headteachers, staff and governing bodies July 2017
- Public sector equality duty guidance for schools in England
To be read alongside the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education
- When to call the Police Guidance for Schools and Colleges
- Prevent Duty Sels Assessment Tool for Schools
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
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
- Education inspection framework 2019
- Inspecting safeguarding in early years, education and skills 2021
- Ofsted Safeguarding Policy Guidance updated March 2018
- Ofsted Safeguarding concerns: guidance for inspectors March 2018
- Whistleblowing about children's social care services to Ofsted 2018
The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) Inspection Framework 2018
For Health and Social Care
Care Quality Commission (CQC) all Regulation and Guidance
Including
- Inspector’s Handbook Safeguarding 2018 currently under review late 2019
- Raising a concern with CQC 2017
Charity Commission
Charity Commission all Guidance and Regulation
Including
- Report serious wrongdoing at a charity as a worker or volunteer 2019
- Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees
- Safeguarding against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (SEAH) in the aid sector October 2019
