Working Together 2026
On the 18th March 2026 the DfE published refreshed versions of the following two pieces of key statutory guidance:
- Children’s Social Care National Framework 2026 (National Framework)
- Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 (Working Together)
Updates to Working Together reflect an ongoing commitment to strengthen multi-agency help, support and protection and include:
- Aligning with Families First Partnership programme reforms, including clarifying that Family Help now brings together Targeted Early Help and Section 17 support into a single, more seamless offer
- Reinforcing expectations for multi-agency child protection
- Strengthening responses to child sexual abuse, domestic abuse and the safeguarding of babies, unborn children and children in any care arrangement, including those who are looked after
- Streamlining the chapter on learning from serious safeguarding incidents to provide clearer direction on when and how incidents should be notified and reviewed
- A stronger focus on anti-racist, anti-discriminatory and culturally informed practice
A full summary of the changes is available here.
We recently contributed to a series of peninsula wide on-line briefings for all partners and practitioners working or volunteering with children and families across the Peninsula, in order to provide a clear, practical overview of what’s changed in Working Together 2026.
With a stronger focus on children’s lived experiences, inclusion, confident information sharing, and an understanding of the wider social and economic factors that influence children’s and families’ lives, the briefing was designed to support you in your role.
To watch a recording of the briefing and to access all accompanying material please click here.