Department of Health

Website of the Department of Health

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Vulnerable Children

An extensive programme of work has continued to support the NHS contribution to safeguard children. This includes:
Launch of a website and discussion database to share best practice.
Funding Care Services Improvement Partnership to deliver a range of support for designated and named health professionals.
A new network for named safeguarding health professionals in mental health trusts has been launched.

DH announced in February 2008 £10 million per annum over the next 3 years to support health professionals in their participation in the new statutory child death review processes. Safeguarding children will remain a significant focus including further development of the range of support for the NHS to deliver its safeguarding children responsibilities, working with the DCSF and stakeholders to support the delivery of the Care Matters White Paper and the Staying Safe Action Plan.

Safeguarding

Working Together to Safeguard Children sets out the responsibilities of all those working with children. The cross government Staying Safe Action Plan published in February 2008, supports and promotes this.

The safety of children is paramount to the NHS. This is reflected in the statutory responsibilities placed upon healthcare organisations, to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Children in care

Improving the life chances of children in care, is the focus of the Government's White Paper, Care Matters: Time for Change, published in June 2007.

A range of sustained actions across central and local government, and health services are set out in the White Paper, to tackle the significant gap between quality of life and future prospects of children in care and that of other children.

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