Children Act 2004

The Children Act 2004 is An Act to make provision for the establishment of a Children’s Commissioner; to make provision about services provided to and for children and young people by local authorities and other persons; to make provision in relation to Wales about advisory and support services relating to family proceedings; to make provision about private fostering, child minding and day care, adoption review panels, the defence of reasonable punishment, the making of grants as respects children and families, child safety orders, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, the publication of material relating to children involved in certain legal proceedings and the disclosure by the Inland Revenue of information relating to children. As taken from legislation.gov.uk Children Act 2004.

The Children Act 2004 is an expanction on the 1989 Children Act. The 2004 Act reinforces the fact that all people and organisations working with children have a duty to help safeguard children and protect their welfare. The acts ultimate purpose is to make the UK a safer place for children and allow the creation of a Children's Commissioner. The act takes a child-centred approach with the outcomes being for young people: to be healthy; stay safe; enjoy and achive; make a positive contribution; and achieve economical wellbeing. 

Section 10 of the act shows a new duty on agencies to improve the well-being of children and young people. In this section the act that Children's services authorities must promote co-operation within the authority and with statutory partners who are required to cooperate with the authority to improve children's well-being. Children's services autorities and statutory partners are provided with a number of powers to facilitate co-operation, and can establish pooled funds and provide in kind. In England, partners will include police, probation,, district counculs where relevent, Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), and the Learning and Skills Council, Youth Offending Team, and the governor of a prision or secure training center. This is to provide a joined up approach to ultimately provide better care, and to promote the wellbeing of Children.