Speak For Them · a child safeguarding reform campaign
5 November 2026 · Speak For Them
On 8 October we wrote to Northern Ireland’s Health Minister, with the Justice Minister copied. We asked the Executive to back a four-nation One Record and adopt the Unshaken standard. On 5 November the Department of Health’s Director of Family and Children’s Policy replied. Read the full letter (PDF)
The Department pointed to Northern Ireland’s existing safeguarding framework and says the principles of One Record are already reflected in it. It also confirmed it is developing guidance to strengthen and standardise how safeguarding information is passed between Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care Trusts and local authorities across the UK when a child moves, including children who are not on the Child Protection Register.
The Department will consider our recommendations with health and social care partners, including opportunities to strengthen existing preparation, training and support arrangements. It has not yet committed to the specific measures we proposed.
The Department says these two proposals fall within the remit of the Department of Justice. We are pursuing them there.
Guidance is a start. It is not the finish line. We are pressing for one record that follows every child across all four nations, and for Unshaken to become the standard before any baby is placed. We will publish every reply.
Also read the Scottish Government’s response and the Welsh Government’s response.