- Conference
- 2003 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 12 February 2003
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that under the Labour Government there has been a great deal of new legislation with the aim of protecting children from harm as well as certain administrative changes in this area. This includes:
1) the Care Standards Act 2001 which amended the Children Act 1989 and led to new regulations in 2002 to replace the Disqualification for Caring for Children Regulations 1991;
2) the Protection of Children Act 1999;
3) the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000;
4) implementation of Part 5 of the Police Act 1997 which led, in England and Wales, to setting up the Criminal Records Bureau and, thus, altered administrative arrangements and a new code of practice, and;
5) the transfer of registration and inspection functions for early years childcare from local authorities to OFSTED followed by the Department for Education and Skills issuing new national standards for out of school care and OFSTED issuing guidance to the standards.
Each of these changes may have an impact upon UNISON members in various service groups whose working lives bring them into contact with children and young people. Conference therefore considers there is an urgent need for accurate and comprehensive guidance so that branches can advise and represent members.
Conference instructs the National Executive Council to put this in hand.