Working together to Safeguard Children 2023 - Statutory Guidance
Introduction Every child deserves a secure, steady, and loving home. Achieving this necessitates individuals, agencies, and organisations to clarify their respective roles and responsibilities, and to coordinate their efforts effectively. The guidance defines a child as an individual below the age of 18. This guidance is relevant to all organisations and agencies who have functions involving children. ‘Working Together’ encompasses individuals at all levels, from senior leaders to frontline practitioners working directly with families, and spans across all agencies and organisations interacting with children. Inspectorate bodies, such as Ofsted, CQC, The Constabulary, and Fire and Rescue, utilise this statutory guidance to shape their inspection frameworks. The Law The Children Act 1989 outlines obligations to provide services to children in need and to investigate if there are concerns of significant harm. The Children Act 2004 extends this by requiring local authorities to coll