The Armed Forces
The responsibilities of the Armed Services towards young people under eighteen who are recruits and to children of service families are set out in paragraphs 2.138 to 2.141 of “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006”
Each Service has its own social work provision which is intended to augment that of the local authority. The responsibility for safeguarding and protecting the children of Service families remains with the local authority.
The responsibility for safeguarding and protecting the welfare of service personnel who are under eighteen lies with the Commanding Officer.
Service families based overseas are the responsibility of the MoD who issue “Defence Council Instruction (Joint Service)” which deals with the protection of children overseas. Social work services for children for whom a child protection plan exists are provided by The British Social Work Service (Overseas) or Naval Personnel and Family Service.