1.1 Outline current legislation, guidelines, policies and procedures within own UK home nation affecting the safeguarding of children and young people There are a number of legislations that have been put into place over the years to ensure children are safe and well cared for as well as giving care settings guidelines to follow. By bringing out the legislations it helps to promote children as having rights as well as giving parents & carers the reassurance that their children will be safe when left in a care setting.
The legislations that affect the safe guarding of children and young adults are:
The Children Act 1989 - this sets out the rights, duties, power and responsibilities of a carer of a child as well as ensuring the child's welfare is number one when making decisions for them or about them
The Children Act 2004 – this set out the ‘Every Child Matters’ listing five outcomes that every child should achieve, which are be healthy, stay safe, enjoy & achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic wellbeing
Childcare Act 2006 – this act concentrates on early years settings and sets out strategic role for nurseries to lay and learn through new duties. These duties are to improve every child matters and reduce inequalities, secure childcare for working parents and provide better information for parents/carers
Every Child Matters – as well as setting out the 5 outcomes for children to achieve no matter of their background, religion etc. It has now set out national frameworks to make sure:
1. Parents are being supported appropriately
2. Social services focus on and play a massive par in improving outcomes for vulnerable children
3. Government and local areas work together to provide support for parents

Working Together to Safeguard Children – gives guidance and support on what should be done if it is suspected that a child is being subjected to abuse or is highly likely to be abused. It states that each care provider should:
1. Provide a safe learning environment
2. Be able to identify or know which children are at risk of being abused
3. Know what actions or next steps to take if a child is being abused

What to do if you are worried a child is being abused (DFES) 2003 – is a set of guidelines to provide help and support to care settings if they believe abuse has been taking place
United Nations Convention in the Rights of the Child 1989 – is legislation where the child’s rights come into place e.g. protection from abuse, to be able to express their views and opinions and to be listened to.

Local Guidelines, Policies and Procedures

The role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards – this sets out how care settings in different areas will work together to safeguard and promote welfare of children they care for. The Local Safeguarding Children Boards cover 3 areas, which are:
1. Carry out actions that:
Ensure all children are safeguarded
Make sure they have safe care as well as learning
Identify any health or developmental issues as soon as possible
2. Lead agencies such as nurseries and social workers to protect children who are being abused or who are likely to be
3. Lead and provide guidelines for care settings Local Safeguarding Children Boards have the duty to:
Provide and develop policies and procedures
Raise awareness of any safeguarding problems
Be involved in the planning of services
Monitor safeguarding issues and evaluate them
Review care and cases
Review the deaths of children

All other organisations that offer or promote care for children, young people, their families or work with children have to fulfil their commitments to promote welfare and safeguard children. They should have in place:
Policies – for safeguarding, promoting welfare, child protection, complaints procedures and any other policy set out by the local authorities that are appropriate
Procedures – to ensure all employees know the