For the purposes of the NESCPC Child Protection Guidelines, a child is defined as a person under 16 years of age.

Note: For persons over the age of 16 years there is no requirement to follow the NESCPC guidelines. However, where protective action is thought to be appropriate e.g. vulnerable young person/adult, the agencies involved may find some of the practices and principles underpinning the guidelines provide a helpful framework for considering how best to protect that person.