100 Days of Safeguarding – Day 89 – Gillick Competence and Fraser Guidelines

Gillick Competency and Fraser Guidelines, are legal judgements that set out the ‘rules’ around when a child is deemed to be competent to make their own decisions. They originate from a case where in 1982 Victoria Gillick took her local health authority in West
Norfolk, and the Department of Health and Social Security (DHSS) to court, in an attempt to prevent doctors from giving contraceptive advice and/or treatment to under 16-year-olds without parental consent. A later Law Lords judgement established that a
parent’s authority and power to make decisions for their child is not absolute, and under certain circumstances children can offer, or refuse, their own consent. The attached 7 minute briefing outlines the judgement and its implications in more detail. Further guidance for professionals is also available here: Gillick Competence and Fraser Guidelines – Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership

100 Days Day 89 Gillick and Fraser 7 Minute Briefing Gillick and Fraser