Safeguarding Children Legislation in Wales

What is the current safeguarding children legislation in Wales?

In the UK, we have pieces of safeguarding children legislation and guidance that are relevant across the nation, but we also have pieces that are country specific. Here we list and summarise the pieces that are specific to Wales. To find other country-specific legislation, please select the relevant country: England, Scotland or Northern Ireland. To find the list of pieces that are relevant across the UK, select here.

Keeping Learners Safe 2015

Keeping Learners Safe 2015 consists of statutory guidance concerning how education providers can ensure they have effective systems in place to safeguard and protect children. This guidance includes the responsibility of education providers to prevent unsuitable people from working with children and young people; to promote safe practice and challenge poor and unsafe practice, and to identify instances in which there are grounds for concern about a child’s welfare.

Link: Keeping Learners Safe 2015

Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014

The Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 constitutes a legal framework for improving the wellbeing of people by outlining safeguarding provision for both adults and children who need care and support. In relation to children, ‘wellbeing’ includes the child’s physical, intellectual, emotional, social and behavioural development as well as their ‘welfare’.

Link: Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014

Working Together to Safeguard People 2018

Working Together to Safeguard People 2018 comprises of seven volumes of statutory guidance, the goal of which is to implement and follow the Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014. For the purposes of adult safeguarding practice, Volumes 1, 3, 4 and 6 are especially relevant.

Link: Working Together to Safeguard People 2018

All Wales Child Protection Procedures 2008

All Wales Child Protection Produces 2008 sets out common standards for Local and Regional Safeguarding Children Boards across Wales by outlining a framework to determine how individual child protection referrals, actions and plans are made and carried out.

Link: All Wales Child Protection Procedures

Revised Prevent Duty Guidance for: England and Wales 2019

The Revised Prevent Duty Guidance 2019 offers statutory guidance outlining how the Prevent Duty can be applied effectively. This includes guidance around training requirements.

Link: Revised Prevent Duty Guidance for: England and Wales 2019