Information Sharing – Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services

The Dept. for Education updated their document titled “Information Sharing Advice for Practitioners Providing Safeguarding Services for Children, Young People, Parents and Carers” in 2024 and it provides comprehensive guidance on sharing information in the context of safeguarding.

Some of the key points for practitioners include:

Seven Golden Rules for Information Sharing: These rules emphasize the importance of sharing information to protect children from harm, even if it means overriding privacy concerns.
Understanding Safeguarding and Information Sharing: The document explains the definitions and importance of safeguarding and information sharing, highlighting that data protection legislation does not prevent the sharing of information when a child’s safety is at risk.
Lawful Basis for Sharing Information: It outlines the lawful bases for sharing information, noting that consent is not usually the most appropriate basis in safeguarding contexts due to its complexities.
Effective Information Sharing: The advice includes responsibilities for practitioners and senior leaders, the importance of inter-agency communication, and how to share information while maintaining trust with children and families.
Data Protection Considerations: The document covers how data protection laws, such as the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, support information sharing in safeguarding scenarios.

This guidance is crucial for practitioners to ensure they share information effectively and lawfully to safeguard children and young people.

You can also find more guidance and resources regarding topics such as