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Safe adults

2. Governance relating to children and young people

1989 - The Children Act:

  • First piece of legislation that covered child protection in the UK
  • Outlines what local authorities and the courts should do to protect the welfare of children and charges local authorities with the duty to investigate.

1996 - The Education Act:

  • Addressed the need for statutory education guidance.
  • Covered compulsory school ages, and responsibilities of the local authority to provide education.

2000 - Murder of Victoria Climbie

2002 - The Education Act (Renewal):

  • Set out requirements for educational facilities that would lay the groundwork for safeguarding the welfare of the children
  • Stipulates that anyone working with children to share their concerns when it relates to a child's safety.  

2002 - Introduction of the CRB check (Now DBS).

2004 - The Children Act:

  • Builds on the 1989 Act, after the Victoria Climbie inquiry 
  • Aims to improve and integrate children's services by promoting early intervention, and better delivery of child protective services.

2006 - Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act:

  • Key piece of legislation for businesses when recruiting new staff and volunteers, developing a centralised vetting process.

2008 - Children & Young Persons Act:

  • Both schools and local authorities must designate a member of staff to promote and care for the welfare of children and young people.
  • It required local authorities to pay a bursary to children in care so they can undertake higher education.

2008 - Murder of Peter Connelly (Baby P)

2014 - The Children & Families Act:

  • Created a new system to support families.
  • Reformed children's residential care to make sure homes are safe and secure.

2017 - The Children & Social Work Act:

  • Created to improve the welfare of looked-after children and regulate social workers.
  • Promoted safeguarding of children by providing relationship guidance and the necessary teaching of sex ed. in schools.

2018 - Working Together to Safeguard Children:

  • Aimed to help those working in safeguarding agencies to understand what is needed to promote the welfare of children.

2022 - Keeping Children Safe in Education:

  • An annual guidance document for schools and colleges in regard to their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

2024 - Mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse consultation:

  • In February 2024, a mandatory reporting duty was confirmed. 
  • It will become a legal requirement for individuals in regulated activity relating to children in England to report it if they know a child is being sexually abused.

References

Duties to report child abuse in England, 2024

NSPCC History of child protection UK