Keeping children safe often depends on different organisations sharing important pieces of information. A school may notice a child is regularly absent, a GP may be concerned about missed appointments, and the police may have attended incidents at home. Individually, these concerns may seem minor, but together they can build a picture that a child needs help or protection.
To improve safeguarding, a new legal duty has been introduced through section 16LA of the Children Act 2004, requiring certain organisations to share information when it may help protect or promote the welfare of a child. The duty came into force on 30 September 2026.
What Is Section 16LA?
Section 16LA creates a statutory duty for professionals and organisations involved with children to share relevant information with one another where doing so may assist in safeguarding a child or promoting their welfare.
In simple terms, if a professional holds information that could help another agency keep a child safe, they will generally be expected to share it.
The duty applies to a wide range of organisations, including:
- Local authorities
- Schools and colleges
- Early years providers
- NHS organisations and health professionals
- Police forces
- Probation services
- Youth justice services
Why Has the Law Changed?
Reviews into serious child safeguarding incidents have repeatedly identified poor communication between agencies as a factor in children not receiving help soon enough. Information was sometimes available, but it remained within one organisation and was not shared with others who needed to know.
The Government’s aim is to encourage professionals to share information earlier and more consistently, helping children receive support before concerns escalate.
Does My Consent Have to Be Obtained?
One of the most significant aspects of the new duty is that parental consent is not normally required before information is shared for safeguarding purposes.
Many parents are surprised by this, but the law recognises that requiring consent could sometimes delay action or prevent information being shared when a child may be at risk.
That does not mean organisations can share information freely or without justification. Information must still be relevant, necessary and proportionate to the safeguarding concern. Data protection laws continue to apply.
What Kind of Information May Be Shared?
The duty covers information about a child, as well as information about other individuals where that information relates to the child’s welfare.
Examples could include:
- Concerns about a child’s wellbeing.
- Frequent school absences.
- Domestic abuse incidents.
- Mental health concerns within the family.
- Drug or alcohol misuse affecting parenting capacity.
- Concerns about neglect or abuse.
The purpose is not to gather unnecessary information but to ensure professionals have the information they need to make informed safeguarding decisions.
Are There Any Exceptions?
Yes.
The law recognises that there may be rare circumstances where sharing information would be more harmful to the child than not sharing it.
The legislation provides an exception where the professional believes sharing the information would be more detrimental to the child. Government guidance describes such situations as likely to be extremely limited and rare.
What Does This Mean for Families?
For most families, the change will have little day-to-day impact. However, where concerns arise about a child’s welfare, parents may find that schools, health professionals, social workers and other agencies communicate with each other more readily than before.
This may mean concerns are identified earlier and support is offered more quickly. It may also result in agencies building a more complete picture of a child’s circumstances.
For families experiencing difficulties, early intervention can often prevent matters escalating to child protection investigations or court proceedings.
The Key Message
The new information-sharing duty under section 16LA is designed to place children’s welfare at the centre of decision-making. The emphasis is on ensuring that important information does not remain isolated within one organisation when it could help another agency protect a child or provide support.
While some parents may have concerns about increased information sharing, the intention is straightforward: to help professionals work together more effectively and improve outcomes for children who may be vulnerable or at risk.
The main take away is that if you are involved in child arrangements proceedings or social services are working with your family, it is important to understand that information held by schools, healthcare providers and other agencies may now be more readily shared as part of safeguarding assessments and decision-making.