{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-2004/section-16EA",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-2004/section-16EA.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2004/31",
  "legislation_title": "Children Act 2004",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/children-act-2004",
  "path": "section/16EA",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "16EA",
  "heading": "Section 16E arrangements: multi-agency child protection teams",
  "text": "(1) Arrangements made under section 16E by the safeguarding partners for a local authority area must include the establishment of one or more multi-agency child protection teams for the area for the purpose of providing support to the local authority in connection with the discharge of its duties under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 (duty to investigate where child at risk of significant harm).\n(2) The support referred to in subsection (1) includes—\n(a) the co-ordination of assistance for the local authority under section 47(9) of the Children Act 1989, and\n(b) support of any other kind prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State.\n(3) A multi-agency child protection team is to consist of—\n(a) at least one of each of the persons mentioned in subsection (4), and\n(b) such other persons as the local authority considers appropriate after consulting the other safeguarding partners.\n(4) The persons referred to in subsection (3)(a) are—\n(a) a person, nominated by the local authority, with experience in education in relation to children;\n(b) a social worker, nominated by the local authority, with experience in social work in relation to children;\n(c) a registered health professional, nominated by an integrated care board for an area any part of which falls within the area of the local authority, with experience in the provision of healthcare in relation to children;\n(d) a constable or relevant police employee who—\n(i) is nominated by the chief officer of police for a police area any part of which falls within the area of the local authority, and\n(ii) has experience in child protection.\n(5) A person may be nominated under a particular paragraph of subsection (4) only if the person satisfies any requirements prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of that paragraph.\n(6) The requirements that may be prescribed under subsection (5) include, in particular, requirements relating to a person’s qualifications or their experience so far as relating to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children.\n(7) Before making regulations under subsection (2)(b) or (5), the Secretary of State must consult such persons (if any) as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.\n(8) In this section—\n“registered health professional” means a person on the register of one or more of the following bodies—\n(a)the General Medical Council;\n(b)the Nursing and Midwifery Council;\n(c)the Health and Care Professions Council;\n“relevant police employee” means—\n(a)a person (other than a constable) who is—\n(i)employed, or engaged to provide services, for the purposes of a body of constables, and\n(ii)under the direction and control of a person who has the direction and control of a body of constables, or\n(b)a person who is—\n(i)employed by the Common Council of the City of London in its capacity as a police authority, and\n(ii)under the direction and control of a chief officer of police;\n“social worker” means a person registered as a social worker in the register kept under section 39(1) of the Children and Social Work Act 2017.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Ss. 16EA, 16EB inserted (29.4.2026 for specified purposes) by Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 (c. 21), ss. 3(2), 78(1)(a)(5)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/31/section/16EA",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:16:56.383931+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}