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Children Act 1989

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Safeguarding Children

The Children Act 1989 seeks to offer greater protection to children. The main principles are: to make children's welfare a priority; recognise that children are best brought up within their families wherever possible; the local authority can provide services for children and families in need; to promote partnership between children, parents and local authorities; to improve the way courts deal with children and families with rights of appeal against court decision; and to protect the rights of children.

What does the act say?

When a court or local authority that you may know as the council, is making decisions about a child, their first thought must be what is best for that child.
Children should be brought up in their own family wherever possible.
Children should not be taken away from their family, without the family's agreement, unless the child is at risk of harm.
As a local authority we must give families help if they have a child/children in need.
As a local authority we will work together with parents and children.
A court must put children first when making decisions.
When children are being looked after by local authorities, they and their parents have rights.

Why is the act important for you?

You should be protected.
You have to be listened to.
If a local authority is deciding what should happen to you we have to find out what you feel and want. We have to tell you what is happening and why. We have to decide quickly what to do for you.
You have to be told your rights.
You can talk about any worries you have or make a complaint if things go wrong.

The act also states that we must help you if you will suffer without help or if you have a disability and need help.

The act says that if you are in danger or at risk of harm in some way then you must be protected.

The act gives you other rights - as well as those talked about earlier. These are:

a right to have your voice heard in some court cases that are about you.
a right to have your own solicitor and tell him or her what you want to happen if you are able to understand what is involved.
a right, in some cases, to ask a court to look again at an order a lower court has made.
a right to say no to being assessed or medically examined (again if you understand what this involves).
a right to be told certain things by us if you are in our care.

If you need advice about your rights and the Children Act 1989 you can contact either of the Children and Families Teams below.

Team Address	Areas Covered	Telephone	Fax
Assessment Team West Wellington House 36 Wellington Street Barnsley S70 1WA	Central, North West, Hoyland, Penistone, Darton, Dodworth, South West, Park, Ardsley, Worsbrough	01226 772423	01226 772404
Assessment Team East Brierley Hall Church Street Brierley Barnsley S72 9HT	Brierley, Cudworth, Athersley, Royston, Jump, Monk Bretton, Dearne, Wombwell, Darfield	01226 775131	01226 775923