Section 11 Self-Assessments
What is Section 11?
Section 11 (s.11) of the Children Act (2004) places requirements on certain organisations and individuals (and the services they contract out to others) to ensure that when they go about their day to day business, they do so in a way that takes into account the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Section 11 outlines the safe systems and safe processes that need to be in place; for example by ensuring safe recruitment of staff, by providing appropriate training and by having up to date policies which all staff know how to access.
Who does s.11 apply to?
Compliance with s.11 is a statutory requirement for the following:
- Local authorities
- NHS organisations include the NHS England and clinical commissioning groups, NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts.
- The Police
- British Transport Police
- Probation Service (National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies)
- Governors / Directors of Prisons and Young Offender Institutes
- Directors of Secure Training Centres; and
- Principles of Secure Colleges; and
- Youth Offending Services
Organisations that are commissioned to provide a service on behalf of one of the agencies listed above should also be compliant with Section 11.
For organisation’s that are not listed above the SCP strongly encourages all agencies that work with children and young people to ensure their arrangements reflect the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
How does the SCSP know if organisations are fulfilling their statutory obligations under s.11?
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) requires Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships to gather data to assess whether partners are meeting their statutory obligations. The Brighton & Hove Safeguarding Children Partnership is responsible for monitoring and evaluating these self-assessments and advising organisations on ways to improve. The audits are repeated every other year so that agencies have time to submit their evidence, create their action plans to address any weaknesses identified, and to challenge findings.
This process contributes to the BHSCP scrutiny function and is also a mechanism for understanding how we can support partner agencies in further developing any specific aspects of safeguarding arrangements.
It is important to remember that s11 does not give agencies any new functions, nor does it override their existing functions. Instead, it requires organisations to carry out their existing functions in a way that takes into account the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The audit is an opportunity for each agency to demonstrate compliance with statutory guidance.
See our guidance for 2024’s Section 11 self-assessment here.
Please contact BHSCP.admin@brighton-hove.gov.uk for any queries.