Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 67
67
Accepted
Urgent need to implement IICSA recommendations as mandatory reporting is limited.
Conclusion
There is an urgent need to take forward the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse. The introduction of the mandatory reporting duty is an important step forward, but it is limited in scope to instances of a disclosure or witnessing abuse, which are rare occurrences. We were concerned that, when asked, Minister Daby was unaware of this despite the significant implications it will have for the social care sector and child protection. (Conclusion, Paragraph 169)
Government Response Summary
The government confirms the Mandatory Reporting Duty, outlined in the Crime and Policing Bill, is progressing and will come into force one year post-Royal Assent. They commit to working with regulators to communicate the duty and are implementing wider training improvements for social workers and other professionals in child protection and specialist child sexual abuse and exploitation.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Mandatory Reporting Duty measure (outlined in the Crime and Policing Bill) is currently progressing through Parliament and will come into force one year after the Bill receives Royal Assent. As part of the implementation, we will work with regulators and professional standards-setting bodies to ensure the new duty is clearly communicated ahead of implementation. Furthermore, as outlined in the ‘Tackling CSA Progress Update’, published in April 2025, we are taking forward wider work to improve training, including: • the implementation of new standards for child and family social work practice, placing greater emphasis on child protection, through delivering a national roll out of a new social work induction programme for all those entering the profession; • the development of new standards and training for advanced child protection social work to build expertise and help embed lead child protection practitioner roles; and • the development of specialist child sexual abuse and exploitation training for social workers and other key members of the children’s services workforce, including family help workers.