About this guidance

1. This guidance covers:

   • the legislative requirements and expectations on individual services to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; and

   • a clear framework for Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) to monitor the effectiveness of local services.

2. This document replaces Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010); The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families (2000); and Statutory guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 (2007). Links to relevant supplementary guidance that professionals should consider alongside this guidance can be found at Appendix C.

What is the status of this guidance?

3. This guidance is issued under:

• section 7 of the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970, which requires local authorities in their social services functions to act under the general guidance of the Secretary of State;

• section 11 (4) of the Children Act 2004 which requires each person or body to which the section 11 duty applies to have regard to any guidance given to them by the Secretary of State; and

• section 16 of the Children Act 2004, which states that local authorities and each of the statutory partners must, in exercising their functions relating to Local Safeguarding Children Boards, have regard to any guidance given to them by the Secretary of State.

4. This guidance applies to other organisations as set out in chapter 2.

5. This document should be complied with unless exceptional circumstances arise. 

Who is this guidance for?

6. This statutory guidance should be read and followed by local authority Chief Executives, Directors of Children’s Services, LSCB Chairs and senior managers within organisations who commission and provide services for children and families, including social workers and professionals from health services, adult services, the police, Academy Trusts, education and the voluntary and community sector who have contact with children and families.1,2

7. All relevant professionals should read and follow this guidance so that they can respond to individual children’s needs appropriately. 

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