Information sharing to safeguard children and young people
Statutory information sharing duty guidance for practitioners and organisations providing safeguarding and welfare services for children and young people.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This statutory guidance is for:
- individuals who are directly involved in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including frontline practitioners, managers and senior leaders
- individuals and organisations that work with children, parents, carers and families
- designated childcare or education agencies
- providers delivering services arranged by these individuals, agencies or organisations
It applies to:
- local authorities
- integrated care boards
- NHS Trusts
- the police
- education
- early years
- prison and probation services
- youth justice services
- youth custody services
- GPs, dentists and other primary care providers
It may also be helpful for practitioners working with vulnerable adults and adults who could pose a risk to children.
Accompanying the statutory guidance are 2 template data sharing agreements, 1 is strategic and 1 is operational. They are starting points for local adaptation, or to update existing local agreements.
It should be read alongside the statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children.
Updates to this page
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Updated as statutory guidance to reflect that the Information Sharing Duty under section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 comes into force on 30 September 2026. Added information sharing agreement templates.
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'Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services' updated to correct wording within the definition of safeguarding (page 7).
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Updated 'Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services' including more clarity on the use of consent and the legal frameworks needed to support the sharing of information.
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Added link to our consultation on a new version of the 'Information sharing advice for safeguarding practitioners'.
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Replaced document 'Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services' with updated 2018 version.
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First published.