In April 2015, the UK government introduced new child protection legislation in an effort to improve the safety of children. This legislation applies to anyone who works with or cares for children, and it outlines specific requirements for child protection policies and procedures. If you are a business owner or manager in the UK, it is important that you understand this legislation and what it means for your workplace. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of the new child protection legislation and discuss some of the key provisions.
The child protection legislation was introduced in response to several high-profile child abuse cases, including the death of Baby Peter Connelly in 2007. The new legislation strengthens existing child protection laws and introduces some new measures, such as making it a criminal offence for parents or carers to fail to protect their child from risk of harm.
Under the new legislation, businesses and other organisations that work with children must have child protection policies and procedures in place. These policies must be reviewed and updated on a regular basis, and all employees must be trained in how to implement them. In addition, businesses must appoint a designated child protection officer who is responsible for ensuring that the policies are being followed.
The child protection legislation applies to all businesses and organisations that work with children, regardless of size or type. If you are a business owner or manager, it is important that you familiarise yourself with the requirements of the legislation and make sure that your workplace is compliant. Failure to comply with the child protection legislation can result in serious penalties, including a fine of up to £5000.
If you would like more information on the child protection legislation, we recommend visiting the website of the Department for Education. This website contains a range of resources, including guidance documents and template policies.
The 5 Ps of Child Protection
The child protection legislation introduces the concept of the “five Ps” of child protection. This refers to the five key principles that must be followed in order to protect children from harm:
- Prevention: businesses and other organisations must take steps to prevent children from being harmed;
- Protection: businesses and other organisations must have policies and procedures in place to protect children from harm;
- Partnership: businesses and other organisations must work together with other agencies to protect children from harm;
- Professionalism: businesses and other organisations must ensure that their employees are properly trained in child protection;
- Participation: businesses, parents, carers, and children should all be involved in child protection.
These five principles provide a framework for child protection in the UK, and they will help to ensure that children are kept safe from harm.
The child protection legislation is an important step forward in protecting children from abuse and neglect. If you are a business owner or manager, it is essential that you familiarise yourself with the requirements of the legislation and make sure that your workplace is compliant. Failure to do so could result in serious penalties.
The child protection legislation is an important step in keeping children safe from harm. By understanding the requirements of the legislation and ensuring that your workplace is compliant, you can help to protect the children in your care.
If you or your business is involved in a child protection dispute, contact Wilson Browne Solicitors for more information about the UK’s child protection system.
