Dated March 2010. Supersedes 2nd edition (2006, ISBN 9780112711872). The Department for Children, Schools and Families was renamed the Department for Education in May 2010.

This publication contains guidance on the shared responsibilities and effective joint working practices between agencies and practitioners involved in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, including statutory and non-statutory guidance. This revised guidance has been updated following the publication of Lord Laming's report "The protection of children in England: a progress report" (2009, HC 330, ISBN 9780102958928), the Government's acceptance of his recommendations and its detailed response and action plan (May 2009, Cm. 7589, ISBN 9780101758925). The publication includes, in part 1, statutory guidance relating to: roles and responsibilities, Local Safeguarding Children Boards, training and development for inter-agency work, managing individual cases, supplementary guidance, child death review processes and serious case reviews. Part 2 contains non-statutory practice guidance relating to: lessons from research and inspection, implementing key principles, the welfare of vulnerable children, and managing individuals who pose a risk of harm to children.