New information sharing duty comes into effect
A new information sharing duty for safeguarding practitioners commenced from Wednesday 30 September.
2nd October, 2026
The duty means practitioners must share information where it is relevant to safeguarding and promoting a child's welfare. This includes where concerns relate to early help, prevention and unmet need.
Learning from reviews consistently highlights the importance of effective information sharing. Rapid reviews and Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews often identify situations where agencies each held part of the picture, but important information was not brought together early enough to protect the child.
We encourage all practitioners to read the statutory guidance and consider what the duty means for your day-to-day practice.
