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Varies by devolved framework
Child safeguarding in the UK is not uniform. Alongside UK-wide legislation like the Data Protection Act and Online Safety Act, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each operate their own statutory frameworks for how services and schools should safeguard children.
Key Points
Scotland — GIRFEC (Getting It Right for Every Child): built around the SHANARRI wellbeing indicators (Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Respected, Responsible, Included), overseen by the Scottish Government / Education Scotland
Wales — Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014: includes the "More Than Just Words" Welsh language framework for child services, overseen by the Welsh Government
Northern Ireland — Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995: implemented through SBNI (Safeguarding Board NI) procedures and guidance, overseen by the Department of Health NI
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For immediate help: • 999 — if someone is in immediate danger • Childline: 0800 1111 — free, confidential support • CEOP — ceop.police.uk for online exploitation
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