Operational Policing
Safeguarding Vulnerable People
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons Team was set up in August 2005 with a remit to coordinate the Home Office’s many roles in relation to safeguarding both adults and children. Initially the team focused on child safeguarding but from September 2006 has extended its work to include vulnerable adults.
Latest News
Vetting and barring scheme introduced
From 12 October, increased safeguards have been introduced under the vetting and barring scheme:
- it is now a criminal offence for people barred by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) to work or apply to work with children or vulnerable adults in a wide range of posts
- three former barred lists (POCA, POVA and list 99) are being replaced by two new ISA-barred lists
- employers face criminal sanctions for knowingly employing someone who has been barred
- new jobs and voluntary positions will be covered by the scheme, including moderators of children’s internet chat rooms and a large number of NHS and prison service staff
To find out more, read the vetting and barring scheme news story or visit the Independent Safeguarding Authority website (new window).
Safeguarding children and young people is a major priority for the government and forms a crucial part of the Every Child Matters and Children's Plan (new window) led by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).
The government aims to make sure that all work related to safeguarding children is joined up and that policies and strategies to improve safeguarding practice are effectively coordinated and put into practice. The mapping exercise of child safeguarding work done by the Home Office in 2006 started the process of reviewing how work could be better connected.
Staying Safe
DCSF has developed a cross-government strategy for children and young people called 'Staying Safe'. An action plan (new window) highlights key measures for government departments to implement and is being monitored by a Child Safety PSA Board. 'Staying Safe' is an integral part of DCSF's The Children's Plan, a 10-year strategy that puts children's and families' needs at the heart of policy making.
A new public service agreement (PSA 13) (new window) to improve children and young people's safety was issued for the first time on 9 October 2007. PSA 13 will allow the government to monitor progress and evaluate the effectiveness of policies to keep children and young people safe. This gives the issue the sustained national priority it deserves. The PSA will be measured by four indicators:
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children and young people who have experienced bullying
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initial assessments for children's social care carried out within seven working days of referral
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hospital admissions caused by unintentional and deliberate injuries to children and young people
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preventable child deaths as recorded through child death review panel processes.
A new child safety unit has also been created within DCSF to implement the PSA, coordinate work across government and apply some of the DCSF commitments in the staying safe action plan.
Government action plan for protecting vulnerable children
Following the tragic death of Baby Peter, and Lord Lamings review of child safeguarding – The protection of children in England: a progress report (new window) – which makes 58 recommendations for improving the protection of vulnerable children, the government announced an action plan (new window) on 6 May 2009 for implementing each recommendation.
A new cross-government national safeguarding delivery unit (new window), set up 1 July 2009, will make sure continuous improvement is made in front-line practice across all services. It will also provide support, and challenge every local authority and every children’s trust as they fulfil their safeguarding responsibilities.
The appointment of Sir Roger Singleton (new window) as the new chief adviser on the safety of children, will report annually to parliament on the implementation of Lord Laming’s recommendations and progress on safeguarding children.
For the police, a new strategic framework for implementing protective services will ensure that child protection is a key priority. Working with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the Association of Police Authorities, the Home Office will use the new framework to make clear that child protection is a national priority and must be given the resources and attention it needs.
Keeping Children Safe bulletin
As part of the safeguarding vulnerable persons team remit, we publish a quarterly bulletin, which explains the latest policy developments in safeguarding children and young people across government. You can read the latest news and views in the issues listed below.
Children Act 2004 updated
Police guidance on Section 58 of the Children Act 2004 has been updated. The guidance was first circulated to all police officers in June 2008.
Read the updated guidance on section 58 of the Children Act 2004.
Vulnerable Adults
Review of 'No Secrets' guidance
Following the Department of Health's public consultation on reviewing its 'No Secrets' guidance on developing and implementing multi-agency policies and procedures to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, a summary of the responses (new window) was published on 17 July 2009. Part of the consultation was to find out people's views about the way in which the criminal justice system deals with allegations of abuse of vulnerable adults and whether changes in policy, legislation and practice are needed to better protect vulnerable adults.
The Home Office is currently exploring with the Department of Health, Ministry of Justice and Attorney Generals Office how best to progress the next stage of the review.
