Following recent serious case reviews in the UK where children have died

or been seriously harmed through abuse or neglect, the Information

Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has released new guidance to improve

 information sharing practices and help safeguard children.

Data protection laws can make it challenging for those working with

children to determine what personal information is safe to share.

This guidance aims to build confidence about sharing information

when you have concerns that a child or young person is at risk of harm.

The guidance is for any organisation that works with children and

sets out 10 steps around:

• Being clear about data protection;
• Identifying objectives for sharing information;
• Following the data protection principles. 

The ICO has also created free marketing materials and a video

to help organisations raise awareness of the benefits of sharing information

to protect children and young people from harm.