Corporate
Governance

This Framework Agreement sets out the respective responsibilities of the Department for Education and the Children’s Commissioner to support work of both organisations by: ensuring that effective corporate governance arrangements are in place; supported by the design of adequate and effective internal controls that demonstrate value for money; and are in fulfilment of the statutory […]

The Children’s Commissioner is named in the Prescribed Persons Order 2014 as someone to whom whistle-blowers can raise concerns relating to the rights, welfare and interests of children. Whistle-blowing arrangements offer a framework of protection against victimisation or dismissal for workers who blow the whistle on criminal behaviour or other wrongdoing. Here you can find […]

This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets out the UK Commissioners’ and Republic of Ireland Ombudsman’s intentions as to how they wish their offices to work together for the benefit of children and young people throughout their jurisdictions.

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 provides public access to information held by public authorities. The Act requires every public authority to have a publication scheme to make certain types of information routinely available.

The Children’s Commissioner’s Office is committed to complying with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and any related legislation, which is, applicable. This policy applies to all the information we hold – that is all information created, received, and maintained by our staff in the course of their work.

We gather, hold, analyse and use substantial amounts of personal data in discharging its functions and are a data controller for that personal data. It is required to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’) and the Data Protection Act 2018 (‘DPA’). This document outlines how we seek to ensure compliance with that legislation. […]

This is my final year as Children’s Commissioner, a post it has been a pleasure and a privilege to hold. We’ve spent the time relentlessly showing government where children are falling through gaps in the system – it’s undeniable that there is a group of kids who are left out of the nation’s progress. They […]

We aim to provide the highest standards of work and service and to resolve any concerns about us immediately. However, if we cannot do so and you wish to make a formal complaint, this procedure explains how to do so and how we will investigate and respond to it.

At a school in Newcastle this year, I met a group of sixth formers who talked to me about what needed to change for them to have the kind of future they aspired to. They were gritty, realistic and knew where they wanted to get to in life, but they couldn’t see how to get […]

Report on the Children’s Commissioner’s Office published in March 2019

Half way through my term as Children’s Commissioner, I am as ambitious and aspirational for children as I ever was. This role is a constant reminder that a childhood that is happy and full of love is the best springboard to adult life that any of us could have; that children are resourceful, and achieve […]