Child Protection: An Analysis of Relevant Legislation and Acts

This essay delves into the core principles and legislations governing child protection, emphasizing the significance of these laws in safeguarding children from harm. It examines the evolution of child protection through key legislations, particularly the Children Act of 1989, which established the fra...Read More

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CHILD PROTECTON
Child Protection
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Legislation in child care is principles or rules that guide professional practice in the working
setting of child protection. They have helped in defining the aim of the profession and therefore
provides a sense of direction. The protection of children from harm has been in existence
throughout the 20th century is legislations. The most significant are the Children Act of 1989
which formulated most of the child protection structure and principles currently being used. The
legislations provided that the needs and safety of children should be put first (CWIG 2009). It
also mandated that professionals should try to work with the parents in keeping a child safe. It
instated that a child should always be placed in the care of their family unless otherwise would
put them under significant risks. Children Act of 1989 also introduced a quality standard for
children services (CWIG. 2010). This was to be done through registration and annual inspections
through a system maintained by the authorities. The legislation of Children's Act 2004 has
provided that authorities and the central government should meet some requirements of early
child matters.
The children act seeks to tackle various issues ranging from school meals to smoking in the cars.
One of the major changes has been the adoption works and key reform such as the improvement
of the lives of children. From the social work point of view, the changes seek to reshape the
adoption process. This has affected the department of education to have more children placed in
adoptive family faster. It will help more than 6,000 children who need loving homes to live in.
The CEO of British Association for Adoption and Fostering points out that the government is
trying to increase the number of adopters and minimize the delays related to the adoption
process. The changes in the Act have mandated the authorities to consider having children under
the care of their families or friends carers. It this is not appropriately possible, the public
authorities are required to place them in foster-to-adopt arrangements with various potential

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adopters. The changes also require that consideration is one of the racial, religious, cultural and
linguistic backgrounds when trying to match children with their adopters.
The changes also seek to provide adopters to direct and bigger role in the matching process by
providing them with direct access to the adoption register. There will also be the provision of
power to the department of education to ask councils to outsource various adopter recruitment to
various external agencies. This will make it possible for intervention by the government in case
of underperformance.
The changes in the Act also introduced new rights for the adoptive families such as support and
leave from work. The adoption agencies are required by the law to enlighten the adoptive parents
about various locally available services for adoption service.
The local authorities in the public sector are required to.
Give regard to the views, wishes, and feelings of the child, a young person of the parent.
Regard the importance of the child, young person and the parent and their participation if the
various appropriate decisions and then provide them with information and support.
Ensure that there is listing the possible education and the results and ensure they are well
prepared for adulthood.
Under the section of 11 of the Children Act 2004, local agencies which include the police and
health services both in public and private sector have an obligation to ensure that they focus on
the need to safeguard and enhance the welfare while performing their duties.
The section 10 of the same Act provides that the professionals both in public and private sector
should cooperate with the local authorities in the promotion of children care in various areas.
This cooperation is required at all levels ranging from strategic level to the operational delivery.
All the professionals are required to fulfill their duties in a way which is consistent with the

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guidelines provided by the law.
References:
Cross TL. 2008. Disproportionality in child welfare. Child Welfare. pg 87(2):11–20. [PubMed]
Cross TP, Mathews BP, Tonmyr L, Scott D, Ouimet C. Child Abuse & Neglect. 3. Vol. 36.
2012. Child welfare policy and practice on children's exposure to domestic violence; pp. 210–
216. [PubMed]
CWIG (Child Welfare Information Gateway). 2009. Child witnesses to domestic violence:
Summary of state laws. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Children's Bureau; 2009a.
CWIG. 2009. Making and screening reports of child abuse and neglect: Summary of state laws.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau; 2009b.

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CWIG. 2010. Infant safe haven laws: Summary of state laws. Washington, DC: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau; 2010.
CWIG. 2011. About CAPTA: A legislative history. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Children's Bureau; 2011a.
CWIG.2011. Definitions of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau; 2011b.
CWIG. 2012. Child witnesses to domestic violence. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Children's Bureau; 2012a.
CWIG. 2012b. Mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. Washington, DC: U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau; 2012b.