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Describe the roles and responsibilities of the different

organisations that may be involved when a child or young

person has been abused or harmed. Professionals within different agencies and organisations all have specific

responsibilities regarding safeguarding children and young people. The concept of

integrated working involves everyone who works with children and young people,

and is a central part of Working Together to Safeguard Children (2013).

There may be several different organisations involved when there is any suspicion

that a child or young person has been abused or actually harmed. Some of these

organisations include:

Children’s Social Care (e.g. social workers, residential care and family support

workers)

Health services (e.g. health visitors, GPs, paediatricians, primary care and hospital

staff, psychologists)

Education services (e.g. teachers, early years educators, classroom assistants)

Legal services (e.g. police and probation officers)

Voluntary services and charities (e.g. NSPCC, Barnardos, Kidscape)

Roles and responsibilities of different professionals.

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Organisation Safeguarding roles and responsibilities

Children’s Statutory responsibility to provide support and services for vulnerable children and their families.

Social Care

Health services

Education

Social workers will always be involved in situations of suspected or actual child abuse. Often the lead professional,

responsible for coordinating communication with the child and family, developing the child protection plan, reviewing

progress, recording decisions and actions agreed

Family support workers usually have contact with families both at the local children’s centre and on home visits, and are

often called upon to monitor families when there are concerns about safety, health or welfare.

Provision of health care through hospital services and primary care in the community.

Health visitors have a responsibility for the health and development of children under the age of 5. They may often be

the first people to identify concerns about a child’s safety, health or welfare.

General practitioners (GPs) have a responsibility for the general health of registered patients in their local community.

They may identify safeguarding concerns as a result of a routine visit or general health check-up. They will ensure

appropriate treatment and follow up for health concerns and provide referrals for a range of specialist assessments,

e.g. child psychologists

Psychology services and therapists may be involved in supporting children who have been abused. They will

provide therapeutic programmes, often using play, art, music or drama as part of the child’s healing process

Schools have a responsibility for children’s education and welfare.

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services

Legal and

criminal

services

Voluntary

services and

children’s

charities (e.g. NSPCC,

Barnardos,

Kidscape)

Teachers and early years educators are often the first people to identify safeguarding concerns from routine

observations of children on a regular basis, and they may be required to provide information about the child and family.

Responsibility for the safety and protection of the general public.

Police will be involved in any criminal proceedings that may result from safeguarding situations. They will discuss the basis

for any criminal investigation, methods of evidence gathering and lead the criminal investigation.

Probation officers have a responsibility to support the rehabilitation of some offenders in the community. This will involve

monitoring people convicted of offences against children to ensure they do not continue to pose a threat.

Provide information, help and support for children and families, including preventive programmes and therapeutic

assistance to help children who have been abused.

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Did you know?

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was ratified by

the UK government in 1991. This international agreement protects the rights of

children and provides a child-centred framework for the development of services to

children and young people.

(Working Together to Safeguard Children, DfE 2013)

The safeguarding roles and responsibilities of some of these organisations

are outlined in the table below: