On 30th September, new Statutory Guidance on Information Sharing will come into force in England. This update radically changes how agencies approach information sharing, placing children’s well-being and safety as the primary concern in any information-sharing conversation.
The new Information Sharing Duty removes many perceived barriers and shifts away from making judgments about child protection thresholds. Instead, it introduces a general duty to share information about a child—and others connected to them—to support the statutory duties of partner agencies.
When should you share information? While data protection legislation still applies, information should be shared when:
- It is relevant to safeguarding or promoting the welfare of a child.
- It facilitates a relevant agency’s duties to safeguard, assess risks, provide support, make decisions, or take welfare action (such as early help or addressing absences).
- You have considered any potential detriment to the child. This should rarely prevent information sharing, but appropriate mitigations must be put in place.
You can read the full details and download the statutory guidance to ensure your practices are up to date with these new requirements.