Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Child definition

What does Child mean? In legal practice, child describes a minor—someone who has not reached 18—used across family law, child protection, education, immigration and youth justice to determine rights, duties and court or tribunal jurisdiction. The term is generally defined in legislation as under 18: for example, the Children Act 1989 (England and Wales), the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995, and, in Ireland, the Child Care Act 1991. In Ireland, the 1991 Act excludes a person who is or has been married; as under‑18 marriage is now prohibited, this exclusion has limited practical effect. Specific regimes may use different age...

Safeguarding Children in England: Legal Framework, Local Authority Duties, Multi-agency Arrangements, Statutory Guidance, Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Child Death Reviews

Published by a LexisNexis Local Government expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note sets out the statutory duties to safeguard children.

It explains local authorities’ (LAs) obligations towards children in their locality and area, the specific arrangements for joint working between relevant safeguarding partners, statutory reviews of child safeguarding practice, and processes for reviewing child deaths. The government guidance document ‘Working together to safeguard children: A guide to interagency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children (2023)’ (as updated periodically) describes safeguarding children and promoting their welfare as:

offering help and support to address children’s needs as soon as difficulties first become apparent
shielding children from maltreatment, whether at home or elsewhere, including in online contexts and settings
preventing impairment to children’s mental and physical health or development
making sure children are brought up in conditions that are consistent with safe, effective care
supporting children to live with their birth parents, or otherwise within their wider family through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and when in the children’s best interests
taking steps to enable all children to achieve the best possible outcomes, in line with the outcome set out in the Children’s Social Care Framework

Legislation and statutory guidance underline the importance of multi-agency working. The responsibility...

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Joy Hopkinson , CBE/OBE/KC

London Borough of Southwark

I am an experienced Barrister of over 24 years call. In my current role as the Head of the Safeguarding and Community Services Legal Team for the LB of Southwark, I am responsible for a team of child care and adult social care lawyers, advocates and legal assistants. I provide specialist legal advice to children social care clients and officers and members within the council on children law and education law matters. During my career I have practised at the independent Bar in chambers, central government at Treasury Solicitors and was appointed to an Inquiry. Practice areas included immigration and judicial review, crime and family law and regulatory law in respect of fitness to practise. I enjoy delivering training to legal and social work professionals within the area of child protection and safeguarding with an emphasis on interactive learning and development workshops. I...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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