From 19 October 2026:
- The Working with Children (WWC) Connect online service will be introduced. It will record the connection between organisations and individuals, and the workers and volunteers they engage in child-related work, and help organisations and sole traders meet the new legal requirement to notify the Social Services Regulator (SSR) about these employees and volunteers.
- Mandatory online child safety training will become part of the WWC Check application and renewal process.
To prepare for these changes, your organisation should:
- Understand the changes. Review your processes. Prepare your team.
- Check that your workers’ and volunteers’ WWC Clearance information is accurate and up to date.
- Be aware that any new workers or volunteers engaged in child related work from 19 October 2026 will need to be connected to your organisation using WWC Connect. Details required include:
- the worker or volunteer’s correct name
- WWC Check card or application number
- address
- phone number.
- Be aware that notifications will need to be made to the Social Services Regulator via WWC Connect. This will need to happen when the details of a worker or carer engaged in child-related work change, or when your organisation ceases to engage them in a role performing child-related work.
- Make relevant recruitment compliance and HR staff aware of the changes.
- Inform workers and volunteers about the mandatory training requirement where relevant.
For more information and frequently asked questions, visit the Changes to the Working with Children Check.