Children’s Social Care is undergoing significant reforms. Explore Research in Practice resources to support Partners with these changes.

The Department for Education Families First Partnership programme sets out the practice changes it expects to see to improve support for children and families. This involves safeguarding partners implementing family help, multi-agency child protection and family group decision-making reforms. 

One of the key changes is the creation of the Family Help Lead Practitioner role. These practitioners will lead Family Help, bringing together targeted early help and child in need support. A new digital resource is designed to support Family Help Lead Practitioners move into their new role. The resource draws together learning materials on three key topics: supporting effective analysis, working with risk and uncertainty, and defensible decision-making.

Multi-disciplinary working is one of the integral aspects of the Families First Programme. Katie Smee-Giles reflects on the importance of creative thinking in social care practice with children, young people and families in a new blog. She explores the importance of learning from, and working in partnership with, professionals outside of social care.

The Families First Programme presents an opportunity to reshape Children’s Social Care, with the aim to keep families safely together where possible. Embedding a multi-disciplinary, family-centred approach can lead to better outcomes for children and their families.