What is safeguarding?
The Children Act 2004 states that safeguarding children is about:
- Protecting children from maltreatment, abuse and neglect
- Minimising risks of harm to children
- Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
- Addressing children’s needs at an early stage rather than when serious problems have developed
- Ensuring that every child has the opportunity to fulfil their potential
- Promoting children’s welfare
Safeguarding is everyone’s business.
Working together to safeguard children
Working together to Safeguard children sets out a clear expectation that local agencies will work together and collaborate to identify children with additional needs and provide support as soon as a problem emerges. Providing early help is far more effective in promoting the welfare of children – and keeping them safe – than reacting later when any problems, for example neglect, may have become more entrenched.