Information sharing guidance

This guidance supersedes the HM Government Information sharing: guidance for practitioners and managers published in March 2008.

This HM Government advice is non-statutory, and has been produced to support practitioners in the decisions they take when sharing information to reduce the risk of harm to children and young people.

You can read the guidance here

Information sharing is vital to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. A key factor identified in many serious case reviews (SCRs) has been a failure by practitioners to record information, to share it, to understand its significance and then take appropriate action.

This advice is for all frontline practitioners and senior managers working with children, young people, parents and carers who have to make decisions about sharing personal information on a case by case basis. It might also be helpful for practitioners working with adults who are responsible for children who may be in need.

This guidance does not deal in detail with arrangements for bulk or pre-agreed sharing of personal information between IT systems or organisations other than to explain their role in effective information governance.