Safeguarding Children Policy

This document can be used by an organisation/business to set out its policies for protecting children who use its services and/or participate in events and activities organised by it. The document is for use by organisations/businesses operating in the United Kingdom. Organisations which may adopt such a policy include:

• voluntary and community organisations
• faith groups
• charities
• sports groups

The document provides a typical safeguarding policy/statement that can be amended to account for specifics rules and guidelines, and tailored to each organisation's structure. In particular, the document allows amendment for reference to existing policies and specific health and safety rules. Please note that the Safeguarding Children Policy is intended to set out the general approach of an organisation and will cover some key safeguarding issues. Depending upon the particular circumstances of the organisation's activities, other more detailed policy documents may be required to cover specific areas such as:

• a website privacy policy or employee privacy policy
• a staff social media policy
• a health and safety policy
• a website acceptable use policy

How to use this document

The policy first needs to be approved by a member/trustee of the organisation's management or board. Once the policy has been approved it should be signed by a relevant person who is authorised to do so on behalf of the management or board of the organisation.

Then the document should be brought to the attention of, and made readily available to employees, parents and the public. For example, the organisation may wish to place the document on their website so that everybody can access it.

Relevant law

There are many different legal frameworks which are in place to safeguard children in the United Kingdom. Some of the key legal frameworks are:

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is an international human rights treaty which the United Kingdom has ratified. The UNCRC sets out the fundamental rights of children. Many articles within the treaty will be applicable to any organisation which works with or provides services for children. For example, the treaty sets out the right of children to be protected from exploitation, abuse and cruel treatment.

• The Government in England (the Department for Education), issued statutory guidance titled 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' (2018) which should be followed in England unless there is good reason not to. This statutory guidance sets out important information regarding the legal requirements which organisations must meet in order to keep children safe.

• Key guidance issued by the Welsh government includes: 'Working Together to Safeguard People - information sharing to safeguard children' (2014) and the 'Wales Safeguarding Procedures'.

• The government in Scotland issued National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland (2021), which sets out the responsibilities of those who are involved in protecting children and provides guidance for all practitioners who support children.

• The government in Northern Ireland issued guidance: 'Co-operating to Safeguard Children and young people in Northern Ireland (Department of Health, 2017)' and 'Revised regional core child protection policies and procedures for Northern Ireland (Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, 2018)'.

• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012) sets out rules for organisations where employees, workers or volunteers are involved in regulated activities with children in England and Wales. Some parts of this act also apply to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

• The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 sets out rules for organisations where employees, workers or volunteers are involved in regulated activities with children in Scotland.

• The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 form the statutory footing for child protection and child welfare matters in England and Wales. Some parts of these acts also apply in Scotland, Northern Ireland.

• The Children and Social Work Act 2017 makes provisions about the role of the Local Authority and the welfare of children in England.

• The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 makes further specific provisions about the role of social services and child protection matters in Wales.

• The Children (Scotland) Act 1995, the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014 form statutory footing for child protection and child welfare matters in Scotland.

• The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and the Safeguarding Board Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 form the statutory footing for child protection and child welfare matters in Northern Ireland.

• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 (as amended by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012) sets out rules for organisations where employees, workers or volunteers are involved in regulated activities with children in Northern Ireland.

• The retained EU General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 govern the processing personal data belonging to children in the United Kingdom.

Help from a lawyer

You can choose to consult a lawyer if you need help.

The lawyer can answer your questions or help you through the process. You will be offered this option when you complete the document.

How to modify the template

You fill out a form. The document is created before your eyes as you respond to the questions.

At the end, you receive it in Word and PDF formats. You can modify it and reuse it.