SAFE GUARDING CHILDREN IN BRITAIN

Safe Guarding Children In Britain

Safe Guarding Children in Britain

Introduction

Child protection legislation is a myriad of laws and guidance that are continually being amended, updated and revoked. Laws can be amended by new legislation passed by Parliament (known as statutory law), but laws also have to be interpreted by the courts. The way in which courts interpret laws is known as case law, and this can also have the effect of amending statutory law. It should also be noted that not all laws cover all parts of the UK (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) and that the legal systems vary in the different areas.

Since the NSPCC was founded in 1884, it has played a central role in influencing and drafting legislation to protect children. This fact sheet provides a brief introduction to some of the key legislation that protects children and young people in the UK. It is not comprehensive and does not constitute legal advice.

Discussion

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, which came in to effect in 2008, introduced a new vetting and barring scheme for all those working with children and young people. As part of the new scheme, the Department announced the tightening of existing regulations and issued guidance on the implications of this legislation. The guidance, Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education (Nov 2006), is current.

Guidance: Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education

The guidance, Safeguarding children and safer recruitment in education, clarifies the duties and responsibilities of schools and local authorities in ensuring safer recruitment. It looks at the recruitment and selection processes, recruitment and vetting checks, and duties for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in education. It is a consolidated version of earlier guidance material. It replaces:

Child protection: Preventing unsuitable people from working with children and young persons in the education service

Criminal Records Bureau: Managing the demand for disclosures

Safeguarding children in education

Safeguarding children: Safer recruitment and selection in education settings

Dealing with allegations of abuse against teachers.

All schools, including non-maintained schools, independent schools, academies, FE institutions and LAs exercising education functions should use this guidance to review and, where appropriate, modify their practice and procedures for safeguarding children and dealing with allegations of abuse made against teachers and education staff.

Guidance: Working together to safeguard children

Working together to safeguard children (April 2006) is the current guidance that sets out how individuals and organisations should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The guidance updated the previous version, which was published in 1999. The current version reflects developments in legislation, policy and practice.

As of October 2009, the DCSF is working on updating this guidance and updates will be announced here as soon as they are available. The guidance is addressed to all practitioners and front-line managers who have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and to senior and operational managers in organisations that are responsible for commissioning or providing services to children, young people, parents and carers.

It is also addressed to senior and operational managers in organisations ...