Guidance

Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners

Guidance on information sharing for people who provide safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This advice is for:

  • individuals who are directly involved in safeguarding children, including frontline practitioners, managers and senior leaders
  • individuals and organisations that work with children, parents, carers and families, in sectors such as social care, education, health, justice and voluntary

It may also be helpful for practitioners working with vulnerable adults and adults who could pose a risk to children.

This advice outlines the importance of sharing information about children, young people and their families in order to safeguard children. It should be read alongside the statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children 2023.

Updates to this page

Published 26 March 2015
Last updated 1 May 2024 + show all updates
  1. 'Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services' updated to correct wording within the definition of safeguarding (page 7).

  2. Updated 'Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services' including more clarity on the use of consent and the legal frameworks needed to support the sharing of information.

  3. Added link to our consultation on a new version of the 'Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners'.

  4. Replaced document 'Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services' with updated 2018 version.

  5. First published.

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