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Safeguarding Children Legislation in Northern Ireland FAQs

It is crucial to comply with legislation and guidance in safeguarding, take a look at the latest safeguarding children legislation in Northern Ireland below.

• Child Protection Support Service (CPSS)

  The Child Protection Support Service (CPSS) offers information and support on child protection and safeguarding in all Northern Ireland’s educational settings.  

  Child Protection Support Service Helpline 028 9598 5590 (Monday to Friday 9:00am - 4:30pm).

• Children and Young People’s Strategy 2020-2030

  The Children and Young People’s Strategy 2020-2030 is a requirement of the Children’s Services Co-operation Act (NI) 2015. It is the overarching strategic framework for the government to improve the health and wellbeing of all children in Northern Ireland.

• Children Order 1995

  The Children Order 1995 primarily governs the care, upbringing and protection of children in Northern Ireland. It applies to anyone working with or caring for children, including parents, paid carers or volunteers, and seeks to strike a better balance between supporting parents to enact their parental responsibilities and the judicial powers of intervention of social workers.

• Northern Ireland Education Authority

  All staff who work in Northern Ireland educational settings have a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children and young people. Northern Ireland Education Authority provide resources and helpful information and guidance.

• Safeguarding Board Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

  The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) replaced the Regional Child Protection Committee (RCPC). The objective of the SBNI is to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in Northern Ireland by coordinating the work and ensuring the effectiveness of each person or body represented on the SBNI board.

• Safeguarding and Child Protection in Schools: A Guide for Schools (Updated September 2023)

  Safeguarding and Child Protection in Schools: A Guide for Schools aims to assist school Boards of Governors (BoG) and other school staff in fulfilling their responsibilities regarding their safeguarding and child protection role, in order to promote clarity and consistency of approach across all schools.

• Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland (UNOCINI)

  Understanding the needs of children in Northern Ireland (UNOCINI) is an assessment framework created to support professionals in the assessment and planning to meet the needs of children and their families. This is intended as a tool to help identify needs at an early stage and prevent problems from escalating.

• The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

  The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 established the legislative framework for the current child protection systems in Northern Ireland. The overall aim is to safeguard the wellbeing of children and ensure that their best interests are considered by support services and courts.