Evaluating Policy & Legal Framework Supporting Child Protection in UK

This report provides an overview of the policy and legal framework surrounding child protection in the UK's health and social care sectors. It begins by highlighting the historical context with 'The Children's Charter' and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The report then discusses the impact of the Lord Laming Report and the subsequent implementation of the Children Act 2004, focusing on its aims to protect children's well-being and the appointment of directors of children's services. The 'Together, we can tackle child abuse' campaign and strategies for safeguarding children at risk from criminal exploitation are also examined, emphasizing the importance of public awareness, reporting, and early intervention. The report concludes by reiterating the importance of legislation, policies, and collaborative efforts in upholding children's rights and ensuring their safety and well-being in the UK.

Health and social care: Policy and Legal
Framework

Supporting Statement
Introduction
Child abuse include the intentional or unintentional neglect or physical injury to a child under
the age of eighteen (Baggot, 2013). All forms of abuse, including neglect, physical, mental,
and sexual harassment are fall under the category of child abuse. The UK government is
struggling to protect children from abuse and neglect. This report highlights the significance,
aim and impact of different legislations, policies, and publications regarding child abuse
eradication.
“The Children’s Charter”
When it came to children's welfare, state engagement grew in the late nineteenth century. One
of the most significant events in the history of children was the passage of the Prevention of
Cruelty to and Protection of Children Act of 1889 (Glasby and Dickinson, 2008). The 1880s
child saving movement gave rise to the Children's Charter “The Children’s Charter 1889”.
This legislation was significant because it addressed Begging and underage labour standards.
For the first time, the state was able to get involved in the dynamics of parent-child
interactions. If a child is in danger, police may enter the home and arrest anyone who is
mistreating a child. With the support of the NSPCC and this law, perceptions about children's
rights were transformed, laying the groundwork for additional safeguarding legislation (Ham,
2009).
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), 1989
As stated by Hudson (2013), there have never been so many signatories to a human rights
treaty before. UNCRC was drafted in 1989 and is the most widely endorsed human rights
accord in the world. As a United Nations-created convention, the UNCRC lists every child's
right until they are 18 years old. The Convention provides a shared ethical and legal
foundation for the fulfilment of children's rights. Peace, dignity, tolerance, individual liberty,
equality, education, and solidarity are the cornerstones of its mission. These rights will be
protected and promoted by almost every country around the world as they have signed the
convention. The physical and mental demands of every child necessitate an acceptable
quality of living (Klein, 2013). Every child is entitled to quality education. The government is
obligated to help a youngster who is in need.

Publication of Lord Laming Report
According to the findings of Lord Laming's investigation, Victoria's death may have been
prevented. Victoria may have been saved on 12 separate occasions if help had been
summoned. Every time, the opportunity was squandered (Brodsky et al., 2003). To be sure
that children are secure, Lord Laming's report correctly emphasizes the significance of strong
national and local leadership with clear accountability and excellent collaboration across
children's services, health, police, and other agencies. This investigation aimed to discover
what were the systemic problems preventing effective intervention. These included
insufficient management support for front-line personnel, a lack of responsibility, and a lack
of information exchange between and among organizations. The impact of this publication
was the creation of “Every Child Matters” by the government as a response to the findings
and recommendation of that inquiry (Johnson and Desouza, 2008).
The Children Act 2004
This law, passed in 2004 resulting from the 1989 act, seeks to protect children's well-being,
development, and morals as much as possible (Challis et al., 2018). It emphasizes that all
people and organization who works with children must do their part to keep them safe and
support their well-being. This means the action of the people like carer and the organization
would take most appropriate action un terms of safeguarding the children along with
promoting their welfare. The number of children who were sexually assaulted in England and
Wales in 2020/21 was higher than the previous year's figure of 2,900 (GOV.UK, 2019). This
is because with the raising intensity of crime which can further be justified as the rate of
sexual abuse of children before the age of 16 years 7.5% (Child sexual abuse in England and
Wales: year ending March 2019, 2022). Making the UK a safer place for children, and it
mandated the appointment of a director of children's services by each local authority is the
goal of this act. This is associated with the section-11 of the concerned act under which a
duty in respect to organization and employees would be set so that they can act towards the
welfare of the children. This is because the director will make the policies along with
ensuring that the compliance of law will be made ensured by the concerned local authorities
so that the child abuse will lower down. There are many causes of infidelity, including lack of
love, care, and attention. When a child's basic needs are not being met, it's considered neglect
e.g., an insufficient supply of food or medical care. As per the Children's Act 2004, a
separate fund would be generated and allowed by the Government to help children who are

disadvantaged because of their family finances or because they are at risk of becoming
victims of crime to have the best possible chance of succeeding in life (NHS, 2019).
The major disadvantage of the Children Act 2004 is the concept of accountability which
states that the children below the age of 10 are accountable to take responsibility for action
because they are smart enough. Low accountability of social care workers is also a
disadvantage of the act.
Together, we can tackle child abuse
Children's abuse and neglect should be made public knowledge through this national
campaign. The significance of this campaign is to highlight the crucial role of people in
reporting and eradicating child abuse and neglect (NSPCC, 2021). NSPCC usually work with
the school and assist the children towards Speak Out and Stay Safe Programme so that the it
can help the children to ensure safety. However, its moves are limited in terms of association
towards the schools and thus not able to access the need and approach to every child who has
been suffering from abuse.
The purpose of this campaign is to encourage people to report their concerns so that
assistance can be provided to children more quickly. There are various ways to reach the
NSPCC in terms of making a contact through call, submission of form online or directly to
the offices, writing an email or sending a video or audio of abuse to the NSPCC. The
procedure of contact can be made performed in terms of answering the call by the call
handler for addressing the issue. Later, the counsellor will listen the concern and address the
issue. In case of serious issue, the counsellor will take the next step i.e. making a referral
under which the report will be share to social service agencies. Lastly the contact will always
be available towards the NPSCC. Parents between the 25 to 40 age group were the target of
this campaign because they raise awareness among them so that they can speak up and report
the abuse in relation with children. Over 2,500 adults in the UK were surveyed by the
Department for Education (DfE) and found to be the most confident in this regard because
they are well educated and have potential to raise their voice in respect to abuse. This
campaign has brought a change in the behaviour of people towards children such as they are
more prone to report child abuse than before (Public Health England, 2019). With such
awareness the proportion and percentage of child abuse has been forecasted to be lower down
because of the involvement of rapid addressing of issues.
Safeguarding Children at risk from criminal exploitation

When children are used for illegal activities, they are being exploited. According to Baggot
(2013), this type of abuse and harm affects children around the world. Supply of drugs across
various places and countries along with the involvement of children would negatively impact
the child and their future. For example, during the age of study the concept of child labor has
been performed that would darken the future and career of children. With such activities the
children may itself involve themselves in terms of development of habit and thus raise the
chances of criminal exploitation and activities. Only a small percentage of private residences
can claim to be safe and secure. To combat child exploitation, the county of Oxford has
developed Oxfordshire Neglect Strategy, which is laid out in this document (Glasby and
Dickinson, 2008). As per this strategy the reduction of impact of neglect towards the physical
and emotional wellbeing of children in Oxfordshire has been identified at early stage and
with the taking of appropriate measures and involvement of families the negative impact can
be reduced. The significance of this review is to ensure that the safety of all children is given
the attention it deserves. This policy aims to help children and young people who have been
abused or are at risk of being abused. In the setting of care home when employees and carer
When employees see signs of exploitation, they should be able to act quickly to stop it.
Likewise, they also perform the duty under which if the employees or carer find any
suspicious activity and event then it is their duty that they can report it on an early basis. This
review helps to establish recommendations for the government to protect children from a
variety of dangers, including physical and emotional abuse, sexual misconduct, sexual
exploitation, self-mutilation, depression, suicidal thoughts, withdrawal, mental health issues,
substance abuse etc (Ham, 2009).
Conclusion
In the conclusion, it can be said that children have the right to access basic human needs.
Legislation like Child Act 2004, different policies, campaigns, and reports have a great role
in upholding children's rights and protecting them from abuse and neglect. The government
along with other parties and general people should come forward with an effective initiative
to ensure a safe UK for children.

References
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Child sexual abuse in England and Wales: year ending March 2019., 2022. [online]
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https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/
childsexualabuseinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2019