Safeguarding resources for Professionals

This page contains links to safeguarding resources and documents. We hope it will benefit you and your work.

Children's trust governance and strategic planning

'Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006' is one of a suite of five key documents which gives guidance on children's trust governance and strategic planning, all documents referred to are accessible through: - www.everychildmatters.gov.uk.

Please note: some of the following documents can have a large file size. Please be patient when downloading.

  1. Inter-agency co-operation to improve the wellbeing of children: Children's Trusts.
  2. The Children and Young People's Plan (CYPP).
  3. The Roles and Responsibilities of the Director of Children's Services and Lead Member for Children's Services.
  4. Local Safeguarding Children Board Guidance.
  5. Making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

These five core documents should be used alongside other key policy and planning documents relating to 'Every Child Matters'. These include:

  1. The National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services.
  2. Every Child Matters: Change for Children - Young People and Drugs.
  3. Duty on Local Authorities to Promote the Educational achievement of Looked After Children.
  4. The Framework for the Inspection of Children's Services,
    ( - www.ofsted.gov.uk - )
  5. Sharing Information: Practitioners Guide
  6. Children & Families inter-agency referral form

www.dfes.gov.uk - resources to help local authorities

The DFES, with the former Local e-Government Standards Body and a number of local authorities, has developed three resources to help local authorities progress information sharing arrangements and establish effective and appropriate information governance:

  • Establishing a Framework for Information Sharing: A Structured Approach
    This resource describes a framework for structuring information sharing protocols and outlines the relevant legislation. It will be valuable to agencies developing protocols and those looking to review existing arrangements.
  • Inter-agency Information Sharing Protocols Criteria and Guidance Toolkit
    Based on the guidance provided by the Department of Constitutional Affairs, this toolkit covers the national criteria and provides examples to help you check an existing protocol or develop a new one. It covers issues of information governance such as consent, security of information, the Data Protection Act and other legislation.
  • Information Sharing Toolkit
    Designed by the North West Information Sharing Assessment Partnership Cluster Group, this toolkit has been developed to establish a comprehensive standard within and across organisations/authorities for the treatment of personal identifiable information. It also covers issues of information governance such as the Data Protection Act, Caldicott Principles, data retention and access, and security.

Inspection, assessment and review

Identifying people who present a potential risk of harm to children

Training in safeguarding and promoting welfare

Other useful links