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This page tells you what responsibilities, under law, people in society have to make sure that you are safe and well. This includes your parents or carers, Teachers and your School, the Public, who you might work for (i.e. employers), the courts and legal system. The law can be a complicated business. There are literally hundreds of pieces of legislation in the UK which talk about the responsibilities others have for you, and for looking after and caring for the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people. A huge amount of this legislation mainly relates to adults and what adults should or shouldn’t do, but more often than not there will be some part of a Bill, Act or legal document that have bits that concern children and young people as well, e.g. sale of fireworks, sale of alcohol, parental responsibility, children in care. All sorts of things. Parents Responsibility The law states that a duty (something they have to do) has been placed on parents, to ensure that you are safe and well cared for while you are under their control. This means that parents have to look out for you and make sure that you are kept safe, that you are well looked after (i.e. have decent food and shelter) and not mistreated, abused, hurt or put at risk. Even people who are not your parents, like the babysitter, a sports coach etc, should do what is reasonable to promote and safeguard your and others young people’s safety and welfare. Local Authority (Council) Responsibility Local authorities have the same duty for children they look after (that is in the care of the Local Authority) as parent do, which means that the local authority have a duty to make sure that children in care, are safe and well cared for. Most of these responsibilities are described in the Children’s Act 1989. Teachers and Schools Schools and teachers have a duty, under the law, to make sure that children and young people are safe and well cared for while in school. In Latin this is called ‘In Loco Parentis’, which means in place of a parent. Courts and the Legal System As far as the courts are concerned, the welfare of a child or young person is always of paramount importance when they are making any kind of decision about them. For example in divorce, the welfare of the child should always come first. Employment rights There are detailed rules and regulations for the employment of young people in the UK. These state that businesses have an obligation (what they have to do) to make sure that young people are treated fairly at work. These rules range from how much you are allowed to work in a week, especially during school terms, to rules about selling alcohol or cigarettes etc.. Downloads Summary of the Children's Act 1989: This download gives a bit of information about how the children's act can affect children and young people. Links The Your Rights website aims to provide an easily understood guide to the Human Rights Act 1998, explaining its relevance and impact in many different areas of law ranging from rights of privacy to rights of peaceful protest. The website has been written by expert lawyers, but intended primarily for people who have no specialist legal knowledge. The rights 4 me website is the Office of the Children’s Rights Director website for children and young people. The website is linked to the Commission for Social Care Inspection and provides children and young people who live away from home in either a children’s home, boarding school, residential special school, further education college or residential family centre, are in foster care, have been adopted, have left care, the oportunity to speak out about the services they receive. The website is hosted by Liberty, an independent human rights organisation. |
