1.2. Describe the roles of different agencies involved in safeguarding the welfare of children and young people

This guide will help you answer 1.2. Describe the roles of different agencies involved in safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.

Safeguarding the welfare of children and young people involves many different agencies working together. Each agency has a clear role and set of responsibilities. Effective safeguarding depends on these agencies communicating and cooperating with one another to promote the safety, wellbeing, and rights of children.

In this guide, we cover the main agencies involved, what they do, and how they work to protect children.

Local Authority Children’s Social Care

Children’s Social Care departments lead on safeguarding issues when a child is thought to be at risk of harm.

Their key roles include:

• Investigating child protection concerns
• Assessing the needs of the child and family
• Planning and providing support services
• Taking legal action if a child needs to be removed from unsafe conditions

Children’s Social Care staff work closely with police, health services, and schools. If a professional or member of the public raises a concern, social workers will gather information, talk to the child and family, and make decisions about what should happen next.

Police

The police play an important part in protecting children when there is suspected abuse, neglect, or criminal behaviour.

Their responsibilities involve:

• Investigating crimes against children such as physical assault, sexual abuse, exploitation, or neglect
• Gathering evidence to support prosecutions
• Working jointly with social workers in child protection enquiries
• Ensuring immediate safety during emergencies

Police officers have special units, such as Child Protection Units, that focus on issues affecting children. They can take urgent action to protect a child who is in serious danger.

Health Services

Health professionals have ongoing contact with children and can identify concerns early. This includes doctors, nurses, health visitors, and midwives.

Their safeguarding roles include:

• Monitoring children’s physical and mental health
• Detecting signs of abuse such as unexplained injuries, poor growth, or developmental delays
• Providing treatment and support to families
• Sharing information with other agencies when needed for protection

Health visitors and school nurses are often the first professionals to pick up concerns about young children and refer them to social care.

Education Providers

Schools, colleges, and early years settings have daily contact with children. This makes them well placed to notice changes in behaviour, appearance, or wellbeing.

Their safeguarding duties include:

• Following safeguarding policies and procedures
• Linking with the designated safeguarding lead in the school or setting
• Recording and reporting concerns
• Teaching children about safety and wellbeing

Staff in education must respond promptly to concerns and work with other agencies to support the child.

NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)

The NSPCC is a UK charity with a major role in child protection.

They provide:

• A helpline for anyone worried about a child
• Direct services for children at risk
• Workshops teaching children about staying safe
• Campaigns to improve safeguarding laws and practice

The NSPCC works alongside statutory agencies by passing on concerns and supporting families.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

CAMHS supports children and young people with mental health difficulties. Safeguarding can be linked to mental health when trauma or abuse affects wellbeing.

CAMHS roles include:

• Assessing emotional and psychological needs
• Providing therapy and specialist interventions
• Liaising with schools, social workers, and families
• Advising other professionals on mental health concerns

These services help children recover and develop resilience after harmful experiences.

Youth Offending Teams (YOT)

Youth Offending Teams focus on children and young people who are involved in criminal behaviour or are at risk of becoming involved.

Their responsibilities include:

• Support and rehabilitation programmes
• Working with families to create positive changes
• Liaising with the police, social care, and education providers
• Reducing re-offending through education and activities

YOTs can identify safeguarding needs, particularly if offending behaviour is linked to neglect, exploitation, or harmful environments.

Probation Service

The Probation Service works with offenders, some of whom may pose a risk to children.

Their safeguarding role involves:

• Monitoring offenders in the community
• Informing statutory agencies about risks
• Ensuring protective measures are taken
• Supporting rehabilitation work to reduce risk factors

The service protects children by managing the behaviour of individuals who may harm them.

Housing Services

Stable and safe housing is a key part of a child’s wellbeing. Housing Services interact with families who may be homeless or living in unsafe conditions.

They support safeguarding by:

• Identifying poor living conditions or hazards
• Notifying social services if children are at risk in a property
• Helping families move to safer accommodation
• Linking with agencies to provide wider family support

Homelessness or unsafe housing can increase vulnerability to harm, so housing officers play a critical role.

GP Practices

General practitioners often know families over many years. They can see patterns or changes in a child’s health and behaviour.

Their safeguarding roles include:

• Recording and tracking any health concerns
• Referring cases to specialist services
• Sharing information with safeguarding teams
• Supporting children with long-term health conditions that require safe care

GPs are an important contact point for parents seeking help, which allows them to identify needs early.

School Safeguarding Leads

A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) works in each school or early years setting.

Roles of DSLs:

• Training staff on safeguarding procedures
• Being the first point of contact for concerns
• Liaising with other agencies about child welfare
• Keeping secure records of safeguarding issues

DSLs ensure that safeguarding processes are followed correctly within education settings.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hubs (MASH)

MASH teams bring together professionals from social care, police, health, and other services to share information quickly.

Their role is:

• Discussing concerns raised about a child or family
• Putting together a full picture from all agencies
• Making decisions on the best action to take
• Allocating cases to relevant services for support or protection

Working in a hub means decisions are made faster and children get help sooner.

CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)

CAFCASS supports children involved in family court cases, such as care proceedings or contact disputes.

Their duties include:

• Making sure the child’s voice is heard in court
• Carrying out welfare checks
• Advising the court on what arrangements are in the child’s best interests
• Working with social workers, parents, and other agencies

CAFCASS officers focus on making sure court decisions protect and support the child’s safety.

Charities and Voluntary Organisations

Many charities work to support children and families. Examples include Barnardo’s and Action for Children.

They provide:

• Support programmes for families in need
• Counselling for parents and children
• Advocacy for children’s rights
• Special projects for groups such as young carers or children with disabilities

Charities often fill gaps in statutory services by offering direct emotional and practical help.

Early Help Services

Early Help aims to support families before problems become serious.

Their roles involve:

• Identifying needs through contact with schools, health services, or community groups
• Coordinating services to provide joined-up support
• Helping with parenting, finances, housing, and health
• Preventing situations from developing into child protection concerns

Early Help shows how safeguarding includes prevention as well as reaction.

Safeguarding Partnerships

Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships bring together agencies to set policies, share training, and review serious cases.

They are responsible for:

• Coordinating safeguarding across all agencies
• Producing guidelines for professionals
• Reviewing practice to make sure systems work well
• Learning lessons from serious case reviews

These partnerships make sure every agency follows the same safeguarding approach.

Information Sharing

A key feature of all safeguarding work is sharing information between agencies. Without it, children can remain at risk.

Agencies share:

• Concerns about a child’s safety
• Details of health or behaviour
• Evidence from police or social care
• Plans for ongoing support

Information must be shared lawfully and securely to protect confidentiality.

Final Thoughts

Every agency that works with children has a responsibility to protect them from harm. This means recognising signs that something is wrong and acting quickly to get support in place. While each organisation has its own specific duties, safeguarding relies on them all working together.

Multi-agency cooperation ensures that no single piece of information is overlooked and decisions are made based on the full picture. Understanding these roles will help you know who to contact, how to report concerns, and why it is important to record information accurately. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and your role can make a difference to a child’s safety and future wellbeing.