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What is the Child Protection Authority
- Flick Learning
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
The Child Protection Authority is not yet a statutory government body. Proposed following the 2022 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), the agency would strengthen England’s existing child protection system, helping agencies and departments work together.
Currently, the exact details of the proposed agency are not known. The government has said it plans to implement all of the report’s recommendations. Whatever form it takes, the agency will have far-reaching ramifications for schools, colleges, and other educational institutions.
Find out what’s known so far, the difference between safeguarding and child protection, and how you can have your say in the CPA.
In this post we'll discuss:
What the Child Protection Authority Is
The Child Protection Authority is a proposed government agency that’s currently being established in England. Its creation follows the Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA), published in 2022. This report highlighted ongoing systemic failures in identifying and responding to cases of child sexual abuse, especially group-based exploitation.
The report made several specific recommendations that the UK government has said it will implement. Based on these recommendations, the CPA is expected to:
oversee child protection practice at a national level
track emerging safeguarding risks and coordinate swift responses
embed learning from serious incidents across every local area
work with inspectorates to challenge and support safeguarding partners
strengthen action against sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, trafficking, and organised crime
For schools and care providers, the CPA will set clear standards for protecting children and identifying potential cases of exploitation and harm.
What is the Difference Between Safeguarding and Child Protection?
Understanding the terminology used in child protection helps prevent future harm. One common area of confusion is safeguarding and child protection.
Safeguarding: the broad, preventative system of policies, practices, and early-help measures designed to keep all children safe and promote their wellbeing before harm occurs.
Child Protection: the statutory, reactive response used when a child is suffering or at serious risk of harm, involving formal investigations, interventions, and legal processes where necessary.
Think of safeguarding as the proactive duty to keep children safe. Child protection, in contrast, is the set of formal actions that are taken when a child is at serious risk of harm (or harm has occurred).
Having Your Say on the CPA
The Child Protection Authority does not yet exist. It’s still in the planning and consultation stages. That means everyone , from teachers and care professionals to relevant organisations, can participate in the consultation process.
The government launched the consultation on 11 Dec 2025 and it runs until 5 Mar 2026 (12 weeks). The government is inviting the public to share views on how the CPA should function, how it can support system learning, and other aspects of the new agency.
Have your say and be part of the new agency’s creation.
The CPA’s Core Purpose
The CPA’s creation comes on the back of systemic failures in child protection. Both the IICSA report and the Casey Audit, led by Louise Casey and published in 2025, noted challenges in inter-agency collaboration.
At the core of the CPA are two objectives:
To ensure every child grows up safe, supported, and protected from harm
To intervene when a child is at risk and ensure that proper support systems are in place
Unlike other organisations, where child protection is one of many functions, this singular purpose is intended to provide accountability and decisive action.
What the Child Protection Authority Is Responsible For
The exact details of the CPA are still being worked out. Based on the initial reports and government briefings, however, it appears that the CPA will have a few clear responsibilities:
Investigating reports of abuse or neglect
Working with police, schools, healthcare, and social services
Making decisions about child protection plans and care arrangements
Previously, child abuse cases were overseen by individual organisations. The CPA will act as an oversight agency that can intervene in specific cases, directing action or providing frameworks for how organisations should operate.
How the CPA Will Work
Unfortunately, we don’t know the exact details yet. Rather than replacing existing services, the Child Protection Authority is expected to sit above the system, bringing together intelligence, oversight, and national learning into a single place.
It would gather information from local authorities, schools, health services, and police forces to build a clearer national picture of risk. That insight could then shape new guidance, targeted interventions, or focused reviews where concerns are rising.
When serious incidents occur, the CPA is likely to coordinate how lessons are shared nationally, rather than leaving improvements locked within a single area.
The Role of CPA in Schools and Child-Facing Organisations
The CPA will probably oversee schools and other child-facing organisations, not just in specific cases. Most likely, the CPA will:
Provide guidance on safeguarding policies and procedures.
Set expectations for staff training and reporting responsibilities.
Help ensure legal compliance with child protection laws.
When and How to Report a Concern
If you’ve got a concern about a child’s welfare, you can raise a concern. Reports can be made to the police, directly to your local authority, or through local safeguarding services. If a child is at immediate risk, call 999. If it’s not an emergency, you can call 101 or report the crime online.
Here are some helpful resources:
Report Child Abuse | Gov.uk
Reporting Child Abuse | Citizens Advice
Don’t wait. Acting early can prevent serious harm.
The Role of Safeguarding Compliance Training
Even after the Child Protection Authority is launched, safeguarding and child protection won’t stand still. New guidance, evolving regulations, and growing understanding will continue to shape compliance and best practice.
The challenge is keeping up with it all.
flick provides the solution. Our courses are regularly updated with the latest guidance, easy to follow, and ideal for refreshing knowledge or training staff across your organisation.
Explore our courses:
Safeguarding training courses – a range of CPD-accredited courses covering child protection, recognising abuse, reporting concerns, and referral thresholds, helping staff in education and care settings respond confidently and appropriately.
Data Protection in Education Training – a Level 2 online course focused on GDPR in schools, including lawful data handling, staff responsibilities, subject access requests, and how to deal with data breaches
Contact flick learning today to discuss courses.