Child Protection in Wales: How the System Works
Wales has its own safeguarding framework under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act. Here is how Keeping Learners Safe, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, and Regional Safeguarding Boards work — and who to contact.
Overview
Wales operates its own safeguarding framework, underpinned by the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard People. Practitioners across Wales follow the shared Wales Safeguarding Procedures, and each area has a Regional Safeguarding Board that coordinates agencies.
For schools, the statutory guidance is Keeping Learners Safe — the Welsh equivalent of England's KCSIE — issued by the Welsh Government. Concerns about a child are reported to the local authority's social services, with an out-of-hours Emergency Duty Team for evenings and weekends, or to the police. Children and young people in Wales can also contact Meic, the national advice and advocacy helpline.
What this means in plain English
In short
If you live in Wales, your schools follow Keeping Learners Safe, not KCSIE, and practitioners use the Wales Safeguarding Procedures. Concerns go to your local authority's social services or to the police — the underlying principles are shared with the rest of the UK, but the guidance and structures are Welsh.
Who is involved
- Local authority social services — the main route for reporting a concern about a child, with an out-of-hours Emergency Duty Team.
- Regional Safeguarding Boards — coordinate safeguarding across councils, health, police, and partners in each region of Wales.
- The four Welsh police forces — North Wales, South Wales, Gwent, and Dyfed-Powys (101 non-emergency, 999 emergency).
- Schools — following the Welsh Government's Keeping Learners Safe statutory guidance.
- Meic — the free, confidential national helpline for children and young people in Wales.
What to expect
- 1
Concerns are assessed by social services under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.
- 2
Agencies work together following the all-Wales Safeguarding Procedures, coordinated where needed by the Regional Safeguarding Board.
- 3
Most concerns are met with voluntary support for the family; only some proceed to formal child protection processes.
- 4
The child's views and wellbeing are central throughout.
What you can do
- Contact your local authority's social services to report a concern — use the out-of-hours Emergency Duty Team in the evening or at weekends.
- Call the police on 101 (999 in an emergency) if a child is at immediate risk.
- Tell a child or young person in Wales they can contact Meic free on 080880 23456 for advice, information, and advocacy.
- Call the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 if you are an adult worried about a child.
Common misconceptions
Myth: Welsh schools follow Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).
Reality: They do not. Schools in Wales follow Keeping Learners Safe, the Welsh Government's own statutory safeguarding guidance, and practitioners use the Wales Safeguarding Procedures.
Myth: Wales uses the same MASH model as England.
Reality: Wales operates under the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, the Wales Safeguarding Procedures, and Regional Safeguarding Boards. Reporting is to local authority social services rather than an England-style MASH.
Related reading
External sources
- Keeping Learners Safe — Welsh Government
- Wales Safeguarding Procedures — Wales Safeguarding Procedures
- Meic — helpline for children and young people in Wales — Meic Cymru
Frequently Asked Questions
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.