Safeguarding - the role of other agencies
Updated 6 December 2017
Applies to England and Wales
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategy-for-dealing-with-safeguarding-issues-in-charities/safeguarding-the-role-of-other-agencies
There are a number of different government bodies and regulators that have a role in safeguarding.
Government departments that oversee safeguarding policy and law
England
The Department for Education is responsible for government policy and legislation on child safeguarding and protection.
Read statutory guidance on interagency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Read statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment .
The Department of Health and Social Care is responsible for government policy and legislation on safeguarding adults at risk.
Read Care and Support Statutory Guidance for adults.
Wales
The Welsh Government is responsible for policy and law on safeguarding children and adults at risk in Wales.
All Wales Child Protection Procedures 2008
Regulators
There are a number of regulators that you may need to engage with or report to.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
The Disclosure and Barring Service provides information on criminal records and barring decisions. It helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with adults at risk and children. Its website provides information on how and when to check a person’s criminal record. This also provides information on where a charity has a statutory duty to refer an individual to the DBS.
Local authority social services
Local Authority Social Services have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults at risk. Local Authorities have a designated officer (designated senior manager in Wales) responsible for the management of allegations against people who work with children.
Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission monitors, inspects and regulates health and social care services provided by hospitals, care homes, doctors and dentists in England.
Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (OFSTED)
OFSTED inspects and regulates services that care for children and young people and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.
Office of the Public Guardian
Office of the Public Guardian which protects people in England and Wales who may not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, such as about their health and finance.
Police
The Police investigate allegations of criminal abuse against children and adults. Under the Children Act 1989, the police, working with other agencies (such as the Local Authority children’s social care services, health and education services), are responsible for making enquiries to safeguard the welfare of any child within their area who is suffering (or likely to suffer) significant harm. The police also have a duty to refer to the Local Authority those children ‘in need’ whom they come into contact with in the course of their work.
Local Safeguarding Children / Adult boards
Local Safeguarding Children/ Adults Boards are multi-agency bodies set up in every local authority. They lead and co-ordinate the effectiveness of the safeguarding work of their members and partner agencies to protect children and adults at risk. In England these are set up under the Children Act 2004 and the Care Act 2014; and in Wales under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
The Care Inspectorate Wales
The Care Inspectorate Wales regulates and inspects social care and childcare in Wales.
Independent School Inspectorate
Independent School Inspectorate carries out inspections of independent schools which are members of the Associations of the Independent Schools Council.
Schools Inspection Service
Schools Inspection Service carries out inspections of specific groups of independent schools.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales regulates and inspects health care in Wales.
Estyn
Estyn (Wales) inspects and regulates education and training in Wales.
National Crime Agency interest in overseas matters
In cases where a person has committed or potentially committed a child sexual abuse/exploitation offence overseas, involving a British national or a person with a claim to UK residency, the UK authorities may have an interest even though it is overseas.
The NCA advice is that reporting to the NCA should normally follow on from the matter being reported locally in the country where the offence allegedly took place.
Find out more on reporting to the National Crime Agency