The protection of children act 1999 helps create a system for identifying persons considered to be unsuitable to work with children by vetting people using the criminal records bureau (CRB). The act includes clauses that set out the child protection duties of local authorities. The Legislation states that local authorities must have a provision of services for children and their families and that every local authority has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children within their area who are in need. Also that they have a duty to investigate if they are informed that a child who lives, or is found, in their areas; Is subject of an emergency protection order or Is in police protection. They must also investigate if there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm. The legislation defines the term significant harm; harm is defined as ill treatment or the impairment of health or development.
The protection of children act 1999 means that as a practitioner myself and all others that I work alongside will need a CRB check, making sure we are safe to work with children and young people. It also means that as a practitioner I have a duty to children and young people that if I believe that they are at risk of harm, poor well-being or safeguarding issues my duty is to report my findings and/or beliefs. The legislation is incorporated and implemented into many work environments making sure that the well-being and safeguard of all children and young people are paramount. Children Act 1989
This legislation was introduced in 1989; it enforced a change in the way parent’s roles are regarded. The emphasis is now on parents having a responsibility to their children rather than rights over them, also making clear that it is the welfare of the children that is paramount and that the law now often gives priority to the child’ s