Government department safeguarding policy reviews
The Cabinet Office must ensure that each government department reviews its child safeguarding policy or policies in light of the expert witness report of Professor Thoburn. There must also be published procedures to accompany their policies, in order that staff know how to enact their department's policy. All government departments must update their safeguarding policies and procedures regularly, and obtain expert safeguarding advice when doing this.
- In May 2023, the government confirmed that this recommendation had been completed (Government Response to IICSA Final Report, HM Government, May 2023).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedOn 18 September 2020, the UK government confirmed that all government departments were aware of Professor Thoburn's report. It also stated that Civil Service HR had launched a model safeguarding policy and 'Health Check' process, which enables departments to check their own procedures and practices to ensure they are fit for purpose. On 25 August 2021, Civil Service HR stated that they had conducted a survey to review departmental use of the model policy and 'Health Check' and that it gave assurance of progress in the Civil Service.