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Safeguarding Children

Information sharing and parental agreement

The Children Act 2004 provides agencies with a legal basis on which to share information with safeguarding services without parental agreement to safeguard a child. That means information needs to be shared to:  

  • protect them from maltreatment; 

  • prevent impairment of their health or development; 

  • ensure that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and 

  • take action to ensure they have the best outcomes.  

Where any of these factors are met, Housing and Property Management staff will refer children to children and family safeguarding services, and/or share information within the multi-agency safeguarding network without the agreement of parents. However, parents should be informed that a referral will be made unless this will:  

  • put the child at risk of further harm  

  • interfere with a criminal investigation  

  • cause undue delay 

Last updated: 22 October 2025