UK’s most comprehensive child protection procedures released by London Safeguarding

The London Safeguarding Children Board will release the UK's most comprehensive set of child protection procedures this week to ensure all London children receive the same level of good quality care and protection across the capital.  

They are being published following a year-long period of consultation, which has drawn upon the widest-possible array of expertise from across London and the UK to put together the most comprehensive set of child protection procedures yet.

The procedures set out the roles and responsibilities of agencies and individuals and how they should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. They are based on the premise that 'safeguarding is everybody's business' and accordingly are designed to be as wide-reaching and relevant to as broad a range of people working across the capital as possible.

Their target audience is everyone (referred to in the procedures as 'professionals') working in statutory or voluntary agencies, and community/faith groups in London, who works with children, families or - adults who may be parents.

The Procedures will now be distributed widely to organisations across the capital, either as a hardcopy or CD, via London's 32 Local Safeguarding Children Boards.

They will also be available, together with a training powerpoint and handouts, for download free of charge from theLondon Safeguarding Children Board website Opens in a new window.

Speaking on the launch of the procedures, chairman of the Board, Derek Myers said:

"London's children should all be able to grow up in circumstances where they are safe and supported, so that they can have fun and make good progress throughout childhood, teenage years and into adulthood. But to ensure this is the case, all agencies need to work together to promote children's welfare and prevent them from suffering harm - and this is where the London Child Protection Procedures come in.

"This third edition of the procedures has been put together following an extensive, year-long period of consultation. They are, at the time of writing, the most comprehensive child protection procedures in the UK and we hope that they will have continuing relevance to agencies across the country." 

The London Child Protection Procedures will be published by the London Safeguarding Children Board on Thursday 13 September 2007.

Advance copies for media can be obtained from the London Councils press office.

The London Board provides strategic advice and support to London's 32 Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs). It aims to respond to London agencies' needs on specific issues, within a broad remit of:

• Providing a strategic safeguarding children policy lead for London
  
• Promoting information sharing and collaboration in practice guidance and training for London agencies
  
• Supporting research and initiatives to improve services and practice in London
  
• Helping London agencies meet the challenges of national safeguarding children policy.

The London Board is chaired by Derek Myers (Chief Executive, RB Kensington and Chelsea), and its members are made up of representatives from the London boroughs, the police, health, probation and fire services; and London independent, voluntary and community agencies.

This is the third edition of the procedures. The first was published in 2002. They are regularly updated to ensure they remain relevant and work according to the best practice experienced in caring for the capital's children.

For press enquiries please contact: Chris Hogwood on 020 7934 9757 Chris.hogwood@londoncouncils.gov.uk   Fax 020 7934 9777

For non-media enquiries contact: London Councils, 59½ Southwark Street, London SE1 0AL Tel 020 7934 9999 www.londoncouncils.gov.uk

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