Speak For Them · a child safeguarding reform campaign
2 November 2026 · Speak For Them
On 8 October we wrote to the Welsh Government’s Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health. We asked for its position on One Record and the Unshaken standard. The Safeguarding and Advocacy Team replied on the Deputy Minister’s behalf on 2 November.
Read the full letter (PDF)These are UK Government responsibilities (criminal justice, policing, immigration and DBS arrangements). The Welsh Government says it cannot set policy here but will keep engaging with UK departments. We are pursuing this with UK ministers.
The Welsh Government pointed to existing duties to share information and its Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales programme. It recognised the importance of information following children across borders, but has not said whether it will consider a single record that follows the child.
The Welsh Government welcomed the proposal and highlighted the ICON programme in North Wales. It has not committed to the specific measures we proposed, such as coping plans for adopters, foster carers and kinship carers.
Social care, health and early years are devolved, so One Record and Unshaken are within the Welsh Government’s power to act on. We are pressing for direct answers on both, and will publish the reply.
Also read the Scottish Government’s response.