The Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance on inter-agency working was launched last week by the Department for Education and Skills. It is an update of a 1999 document, produced in response to Lord Laming's report into the death of Victoria Climbie.
Consultation on the guidance raised fears that sharing information on a sexually active young person aged 13 to 19, already being piloted by area child protection committees in London and Sheffield, could compromise young people's right to confidential services (YPN, 26 October-1 November 2005, p4).
Jan Barlow, chief executive of sexual health charity Brook, said: "Local Safeguarding Children Boards now develop protocols in line with Working Together, to make decisions case by case." www.dfes.gov.uk.
