Local authority duties to children

Local authorities (LAs) have various statutory duties to keep children in their area safe and identify any concerns.

LAs must investigate any child protection concerns and put in place measures to protect children from harm. These duties are wide-ranging and will be important to various LA departments.

Section 10 of the Children Act 2004 (CA 2004) specifically requires each LA to make arrangements with relevant partners and other organisations working with children in their area, to promote interagency co-operation to improve the well-being of children in that area. This includes identifying children and families who need early help and identifying universal and targeted services to provide that assistance. ‘Statutory guidance: Working together to safeguard children’ has been produced, which should be followed.

CA 2004, s 10(4) specifies who the relevant partners are. This includes:

•
local councils including district councils
•
local police
•
local probation board and services
•
youth offending team
•
National Health Service England (NHS) and integrated care board (ICB)
•
schools, colleges and further education providers

Each relevant partner must co-operate with the LA and

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