Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 68
68
Accepted
Improve training and guidance for child sexual abuse reporting and implement robust IICSA duty.
Conclusion
The Department for Education should improve training and guidance around reporting of child sexual abuse and work jointly with the Home Office towards implementing the more robust mandatory reporting duty recommended by IICSA, ensuring that the sector is well-prepared for this. (Recommendation, Paragraph 170)
Government Response Summary
The government confirms the Mandatory Reporting Duty is progressing through Parliament and will come into force one year after Royal Assent, committing to work with regulators to ensure clear communication. They also outline substantial plans to improve training for social workers and other professionals, including new standards, induction programmes, and specialist training in child protection and 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.