Child protection (CP) involves the statutory intervention into a child‘s life because there is reason to believe they are suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm. This is defined as harm arising from ill treatment or impairment of health and development due to neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse or emotional abuse, and includes impairment suffered as a consequence of seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another.

Child protection processes are set out in the statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children.