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Information Sharing

Working Together to Safeguard Children states:

'No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances so effective sharing of information between practitioners, local organisations and agencies is essential for early identification of need, assessment, and service provision to keep children safe. Rapid reviews and child safeguarding practice reviews have highlighted that missed opportunities to record, understand the significance of, and share information in a timely manner can have severe consequences for children.'

Information sharing is essential for effective safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a key factor identified in many child safeguarding practice reviews, where poor information sharing, has resulted in missed opportunities to take action that keeps children and young people safe.

Legislative Framework and Legal Basis for Sharing Information

The legal basis for sharing information is underpinned by the following legislation, statutory and policy guidance:

The Children and Social Work Act 2017, under which the local authority, Merseyside Police, and Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board have an equal and shared duty to work together (in partnership with other relevant agencies) to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children in a local area.

  • The Children Act 2004, sections 11 and 16E
  • The Data Protection Act 2018 and The General Data Protection Regulation
  • ICO Data Sharing Code of Practice 2021
  • Crime and Disorder Act 1998, section 115
  • The Human Rights Act 1998 (article 8)
  • The Criminal Justice Act 2003, section 325
  • Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children Statutory Guidance 
  • Information Sharing Duty: Statutory Guidance 
  • Caldicott Review of Information Governance 2013
  • The Freedom of Information Act 2000
  • Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

St Helens Safeguarding Children Partnership Information Sharing Agreement & Guidance

Information Sharing Duty Statutory guidance for safeguarding organisations and their practitioners