Key Legislation and Guidance
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England - Key Legislation and Guidance
The Children Act (1989) and The Children Act (2004)
A fundamental piece of legislation governing child protection in England. It reinforces that all organisations have a duty to promote the welfare and safeguarding of children.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017
An Act to make provision about looked after children, to make other provision in relation to the welfare of children, and to make provision about the regulation of social workers.
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
Statutory guidance on inter agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Updated in March 2026.
Children’s social care national framework (2023)
The purpose, principles and outcomes local authorities should achieve for children and families, and the enablers of good practice. Updated in March 2026
Keeping Children Safe in Education (2025)
Statutory guidance for schools, colleges, and education providers. A draft update for 2026 has been shared, coming into effect in September 2026.
What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused- Click here
Advice for practitioners.
The Prevent Duty (2015)
Aims to stop people from becoming involved in terrorism or supporting it. Also supports rehabilitation and disengagement. Updated in 2023.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
Introduces the vetting and barring scheme to ensure staff are appropriately checked.
Local Safeguarding Children and Adult Partnerships
Promotes partnership working within local authorities to safeguard children and adults.
The Care Act (2014)
Focuses on improving adult wellbeing and independence. Requires local authorities to provide or arrange services to prevent or delay care needs.
Sexual Offences Act (2003)
Introduces offences relating to sexual abuse and abuse of a position of trust.
Public Interest Disclosure Act (1998)
Protects individuals who raise concerns or whistleblow from victimisation.
Equality Act (2010)
Updated in 2024 to include strengthened provisions on sexual harassment.
Mental Health Act (1983)
Covers assessment, treatment, and rights of individuals with mental health disorders.
Mental Capacity Act (2005)
Protects and empowers individuals who may lack capacity to make decisions about their care.
Domestic Abuse Act (2021)
Improves protection for victims, strengthens the justice system response, and raises awareness of domestic abuse.
Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)
Outlines duties of employers, employees, and the self employed to ensure safety.
Disclosure and Barring Service Service- Click here
Supports safer recruitment decisions through background checks.
Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974)
Provides guidance for supporting individuals with criminal records.
Wales - Key Legislation and Guidance
Safeguarding Procedures- Click here
For Welsh safeguarding procedures.
All Wales Practice Guides for Safeguarding Children- Click here
Safeguarding guides- forms section 6 of the procedures, provides guidance on specific issues for practitioners working with children and young people.
The Children Act (1989) and The Children Act (2004)
A fundamental piece of legislation governing child protection in England and Wales. It reinforces that all organisations have a duty to promote the welfare and safeguarding of children.
Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014
Provides the framework for improving wellbeing and transforming social services.
Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015
The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales.
Rights of Children and Young Persons (Wales) Measure 2011
Requires Welsh Ministers to consider children’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Adopted as the basis for all policy relating to children and young people in 2004 (Welsh Government, 2019a; Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 1989).
A Children’s Rights Approach in Wales
The Children's Commissioner for Wales has produced a framework to help children's services put children's rights at the centre of decision making (Children's Commissioner for Wales, 2021).
Single Unified Safeguarding Review: statutory guidance
This statutory guidance, published in 2024 by the Welsh Government, replaces Working Together to Safeguard People Volumes 2 (Child Practice Reviews) and 3 (Adult Practice Reviews) (Welsh Government, 2024). It introduces one integrated review process for the most serious incidents in Wales. This process incorporates a multi-agency approach and centres around children and their families, eliminating the need for families to take part in multiple reviews (Welsh Government, 2024).
Violence against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (Wales) Act 2015
Strategy 2022 to 2026 sets out how the Government will work with other organisations to tackle violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence.
Equality Act (2010)
Updated 2024 regarding Sexual Harassment October 2024.
Disclosure and Barring Service Service- Click here
Supports safer recruitment decisions through background checks.
Northern Ireland - Key Legislation and Guidance
The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995
Defines parental responsibilities and duties of public authorities.
Children's Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015
The Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 is a law designed to improve the wellbeing of children and young people by placing a statutory duty on public bodies and departments to collaborate and share resources.
Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland
This policy replaces the ‘Co-operating to Safeguard Children’ guidance issued in 2003. Updated November 2024.
Children and Young People’s Strategy 2020-2030
The Northern Ireland Executive approved the Children and Young People’s Strategy on 10 December 2020. The Children’s Services Co-operation Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 requires the Executive to adopt a Children and Young People’s Strategy. This Strategy sets out how we propose to improve the well-being of children and young people.
Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland (UNOCINI) Guidance
This guide is aimed at practitioners who provide services to children, young people and their families, whether they work in the statutory, voluntary, community or private sectors, who undertake or contribute to assessments under the UNOCINI Assessment Framework.' Please note - this guidance is currently under review.'
Safeguarding Board Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
The creation of the regional Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) was set out in the law, there are five Safeguarding Panels to support the SBNIs work at a Health and Social Care Trust (HSCT) level.
Adult Safeguarding: Prevention and Protection in Partnership
Sets safeguarding expectations across all sectors.
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007
Covers disclosure and barring arrangements.
Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967
Under Section 5 of the Act it is an offence not to report a ‘relevant offence’ to the police. This includes offences against children.
Mental Capacity Act (Northern Ireland) 2016
Provides a framework for decision making for adults lacking capacity.
The Equality Commission
There are a range of different Acts included to cover Equality such as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
NI Direct- Click here
Disclosure and barring arrangements help protect children and vulnerable adults. Below is information on how they work and information on the law.
Scotland - Key Legislation and Guidance
The Children Act (1995)
An act to reform the law of Scotland relating to children, to the adoption of children and to young persons who as children have been looked after by a local authority.
The Children and Young People Act (2014)
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision about the rights of children and young people.
National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2021)
This guidance describes the responsibilities and expectations for all involved in protecting children and will support the care and protection of children. Updated August 2023.
The Protection of Vulnerable Groups Act (2007)
Covers disclosure and barring arrangements.
Prevent Duty Guidance Scotland
The Prevent duty was established by the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 and places a duty on specified authorities such as education, health, local authorities, police and criminal justice agencies (prisons and probation) to have ‘due regard to the need to prevent people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 further strengthened with the Counterterrorism Sentencing Act (2021)
An Act to make provision about the sentencing of offenders convicted of terrorism offences, of offences with a terrorist connection or of certain other offences; to make other provision in relation to terrorism; and for connected purposes.
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) (Scottish Government, 2021a)
Scottish Government’s commitment to provide all children, young people and their families with the right support at the right time. This is so that every child and young person in Scotland can reach their full potential.
Local Child and Adult Protection Committees
The key function for agencies within Local Authorities to promote a partnership to promote the welfare of children and of adults.
Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) (Act 2021)
An Act of the Scottish Parliament to make provision for domestic abuse protection notices and orders for the purpose of protecting a person from abusive behaviour by the person's partner or ex-partner; and to make provision for the termination of Scottish secure tenancies in cases involving behaviour by a tenant which is abusive of the tenant's partner or ex-partner.
Adult Support and Protection (2007)
The Act deals with the protection of adults at risk of harm.
The Promise Scotland
In October 2016, the First Minister made a commitment that Scotland would “come together and love its most vulnerable children to give them the childhood they deserve.” She announced an Independent Root and Branch Review of Care (“the Care Review”), driven by those with experience of care.
Equality Act (2010)
Updated 2024 regarding Sexual Harassment October 2024.
Disclosure Scotland- Click here
Disclosure Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, helping employers make safer decisions when recruiting people. They also make sure unsuitable people do not work with vulnerable groups, including children.