Working together to safeguard children

Statutory guidance on multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children-  December 2023

This guidance is for:

·        statutory safeguarding partners (health, local authorities, and police)

·        directors of children’s services

·        education and childcare settings

·        social workers

·        health professionals

·        police (including British Transport Police)

·        adult social care services

·        housing and homelessness services

·        Prison and Probation Services

·        children’s homes

·        secure establishments (secure training centres and young offender institutions)

·        youth offending teams

·        UK Visas and Immigration, Immigration Enforcement, and Border Force

·        Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass)

·        the armed services

·        Channel panels

·        voluntary, charity, social enterprise (VCSE) and faith-based organisations, and private sectors

·        sports clubs and organisations

It applies to:

·        all organisations and agencies that have functions relating to children

·        all education providers and childcare settings

Statutory guidance is issued by law. You must follow it unless there’s a good reason not to.