* Partnership: professionals and families must work together to ensure the welfare of the children. * Participation: that the childrens wishes and feelings should be taken into account so that they can contribute to any decisions which may affect them. * Protection: Children must be protected from serious harm. The local authorities have a duty to investigate any report that a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, from serious harm. * Provision: states that services that are necessary to safeguard children shouls be provided.
Child protection is a part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It refers to the activity that is under taken to protect specific children who are suffering or are likely to suffer significant harm. Effective child protection is essential as part of wider work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. However, all agencies and individuals should aim to proactively safeguard and promote the welfare of children so that the need for action to promote children from harm is reduced. 1.2 2.3 Children should be raised in positive circumstances by providing safe and caring environments.
Her death led to a public inquiry and produced major changes in child protection policies. The Children Act 1989 was brought in with the intention of simplifying the laws that protect children and young people. It tells people what their duties are and how they should act and work together when suspicions of child abuse are raised in any given situation. Working Together to Safeguard Children 1999 provides guidelines for professionals in England and Wales to help them work with children who are at risk of harm. The Children Act 2004 provides the legal framework for Every Child Matters which was the government’s response to the death of Victoria Climbié.
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 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
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.
In England the main current legislations and guidelines that apply are: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2008, Children Act 1989, Children Act 2004,Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010, Protection of Children Act 1999,Police Act 1997. 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 Protection of Children Act 1999 gave a definition to significant harm. It listed the duties of local authorities regarding child protection. The Children Act 2004 was updated after the tragic death of Victoria climbie’ who suffered at the hands of her carers. Lord Laming issued a report which showed lack of communication between the services involved in her case. The act sees that child protection is improved and there is better communication of services.
H&S at work Act 1974; States our duty to protect everyone’s, including our own, safety, health and welfare. This includes a school’s duty to make sure staff and volunteers have a DBS check. Children Act 1989; Children should be protected from harm regardless of their age, gender, religion or ethnicity. “Safeguarding legislation and government guidance says that safeguarding means: * protecting children from maltreatment * preventing impairment of children’s health or development * ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care. * taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcome” http://www.safenetwork.org.uk/getting_started/Pages/Why_does_safeguarding_matter.aspx “The action we take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm - is everyone’s responsibility.
It sets out recruitment best practice, some underpinned by legislation, for the school, local authority, and further education education sectors. All schools should protect children and promote their welfare by providing a safe environment for children to learn in. Creating a culture which recognises and understands the importance of safeguarding - including listening to and discussing with children. Identifying children who are suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, both at school and at home, and referring immediately any concerns to the local authority children’s social care services. Preventing unsuitable people from working with children.