The Children Act 2004 introduced further changes to the way the child protection system is structured and organised in England and Wales. 1. Children Act 1989 (England and Wales)/Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995: These acts were brought in to simplify the laws to protect children and young people. These laws made it clear to all people who work with children what their duties were and how they all should work together in the event of allegations of child abuse. England and Wales produced separate documents – Working together to Safeguard Children (1999) – which highlights the duties of professionals towards children who are at risk of abuse.
The 2004 Act, laid down a number of legal requirements such as closer working relationships between the agencies e.g. schools, welfare services and health care professionals, and led to the introduction of the Every Child Matters framework the aims of which included to help implement the Act. This framework set out guidelines and stipulated that every child should be given the support to: • Be healthy, • Stay safe, • Enjoy and achieve, • Make a positive contribution • Achieve economic well-being. However, in April 2013 the new Working together to safeguard children guidance was implemented which unified previous guidance papers and legislation to clarify the obligations of professionals towards safeguarding children. It replaced Working together to safeguard children (2010) Framework for the assessment of children in need and their families (2000), and Statutory guidance on arranging to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 (2007).
Children Act 2004 – The Children Act 2004 was brought about following an independent inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié by Lord Laming. The Children Act 2004 does not replace but instead amends the Children Act 1989. It establishes Local Safeguarding Children's Boards with the power to make sure that social services, police, education services, the NHS and other services work together to protect any vulnerable children. Common Assessment Framework (CAF) which uses a holistic approach for assessing, Section 2 An explanation of child protection, within the wider concept of safeguarding children and young people. What does child protection mean?
1.1 Identify the current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people including e-safety. Current legislation in place for safeguarding the welfare of children and young people are Children Act (1989 and 2004), Every Child Matters Framework, Health & Safety at Work Act, Education Act 2002 and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006 and 2010). This legislation’s are in place to help safeguard children and young people and to try to prevent abuse. This Act includes two important parts, which states that the local authority has a duty to investigate when “they have reasonable cause to suspect harm to a child and that services must be put in place to protect such children. The Education Act sets out the responsibilities Children’s Act 1989 This act identifies the responsibilities of parents and professionals who must work to ensure the safety of a child.
The act sees that child protection is improved and there is better communication of services. The Act introduced the children’s commissioners who are there to protect the rights of a child. It also bought in the tracking system which enable all information on a child who was known to the services to be uploaded and flag any warnings. It builds a profile on the child and ensures better communication between services. The Act appointed lead councillors for the local child welfare responsibilities.
Its primary purpose was to give boundaries and help for local authorities and/or other entities to better regulate official intervention in the interests of children. The Act also made changes to laws that pertain to children, notably on foster homes, adoption agencies, babysitting services, and the handling of child-related crimes and crimes against children. Protection of children’s act (1999) - The Protection of Children Act 1999 creates a system for identifying persons considered to be unsuitable to work with children. This will be achieved by checks being made of criminal records with the National Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). “Child Care Organisations” - defined as those concerned with the provision of accommodation, social services or health care services to children or the supervision of children under 18 years - have a mandatory duty to check and report to the Bureau.
Working together to safeguard children (including e-safety). This follows the Children Act of 2004 as it advises how agencies and services work together to help the children who are at risk. This legislation was renewed and updated in 2006. “This provides guidelines for professionals in England and Wales”. Confidentiality.
The Act sought to emphasize the importance of inter-agency work and cooperation in meeting the needs of children and to ensure that children’s views are ascertained and represented, improve outcomes for all children, as well of those defined as “in need” under the Children Act 1989, by focusing services more effectively around the needs of children, young people and families. The laming Report following the death of Victoria Climbie was highly critical of the way the case was handled and made 108 recommendations to overhaul child protection in the UK. As a result The Every Child matters guidelines, led to this
Children Act 2004 - This provides the legal framework for Every Child Matters. It includes the requirement for: Services to work more closely, forming an integrated service. Every Child Matters 2003 – Be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make positive contribution, achieve economic well being. Nurseries must develop a range of policies which ensure the safety, security and well-being of their children. These will set out the responsibilities of staff and the procedures that they must follow.
Unit 025 - Activity 22 Current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures with the UK for safeguarding children and young people Children Act 1989 – This act was brought in to reform and simplify the existing laws protecting children and young people in the UK at the time. It gave children and young people equal rights, feelings and wishes, and that their welfare is paramount. It also made clear that local authorities have a duty to provide services for children in need, their families and others. Children Act 2004 – The Children Act 2004 was brought about following an independent inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbié by Lord Laming. The Children Act 2004 does not replace but instead amends the Children Act 1989.