The Department for Education (DfE) has published statutory guidance setting out what organisations and agencies that have functions relating to children must and should do to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18 in England.
The guidance covers: the legislative requirements placed on individual services, a framework for the three local safeguarding partners; and a framework for the two child death review partners.
Guidance is provided on:
- assessing need and providing help including early help
- organisational responsibilities
- multi-agency safeguarding arrangements
- local and national child safeguarding practice reviews; and child death reviews.
This guidance replaces Working Together to Safeguard Children (2015). The (DfE) has also published statutory guidance to support Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBS), local authorities, safeguarding partners, child death review partners, and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel in the transition.
Further information: Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (PDF)
Working together: transitional guidance (PDF)
The NSPCC has published a briefing outlining the main changes in the guidance which you can read here.