News

The government has recommended that children’s centres take on a key role in child protection arrangements when the new Local Safeguarding Children Boards are rolled out next April.

In a major consultation on safeguarding children, the Department for Education and Skills has called on local authorities to involve children’s centres in the work of the boards, which will replace Area Child Protection Committees.

The draft guidelines also make clear that schools, further education colleges and care providers for children with complex needs will be expected to work with the boards, and that all educational institutions will need to appoint a senior member of staff to take the lead in dealing with child protection issues.

Unlike their predecessors, the boards will have statutory powers, and various agencies, including the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, will be legally required to participate.

As well as focusing on multi-agency training around child protection, the consultation states boards should consider taking a policy lead on bullying and domestic violence.

The draft guidelines also reveal the government’s intention to forge ahead with plans to scrap the child protection register once the deadline for ensuring all children’s social care records are electronically held passes at the end of this year.


Although concern has been expressed over potential risks to children on the register during the transition period, a DfES spokesperson confirmed that local authorities would be expected to phase the registers out by January 2007, subject to the outcome of the consultation.

Safeguarding consultation guidance from www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations