Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026: What You Need to Know
The Department for Education has published a new edition of its statutory guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, replacing the 2023 version.
The 2026 guidance sets out what organisations and practitioners must and should do to protect and promote the wellbeing of children and young people under 18 and introduces several important updates for local safeguarding practice.
A full summary of what’s changed in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 is available on our website, including links to national summaries and further resources for practitioners.
Concerns Resolutions - we need your feedback
As part of a commitment to continuous improvement and strengthening multi agency practice across the city, the LSCP has recently undertaken several multi agency reviews. A number of these reviews have highlighted the need to seek assurance that the Concerns Resolution process continues to effectively support practitioners, where professional disagreements arise.
To support this work, we invite you to take part in a short survey to share your views.
Your feedback will help us understand what’s working well and where improvements can be made. Whether you have previously used the guidance, or even if you've never used it, your insight is invaluable in helping us to develop guidance which better suits your needs.
The Concerns Resolution survey should only take a few minutes to complete, and your responses will be used to help us identify any changes needed to improve this process.
LSCP Training
New dates have been added to our training offer. Book your place today!
Introduction to Safeguarding
Online introductory training for people who are in regular contact with children and young people either directly, through work with their families / carers or through the setting in which they work.
This is seen as a minimum requirement for all people working within settings which work with or have regular contact with children and young people.
This course should be accessed through your own agency, however for agencies from the smaller third sector, voluntary or private sector (which do not have access to training within their own agency) this course is available via the LSCP.
Leeds Community Healthcare staff can access Introduction training in-house via their induction process.
For those practitioners working for key members of the Safeguarding Partnership (LCC, CSWS, Health Providers, Education, WYP), introductory training should be accessed through your own agency.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course participants will have:
- An awareness of the signs and indicators that a child is experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation
- An awareness of the impact abuse can have on a child's development
- An understanding of the importance of being professionally curious and responding to concerns about a child
- The skills to recognise and respond to safeguarding concerns in an appropriate way
- An understanding of the importance of working alongside others, including family members and other professionals to respond to safeguarding concerns.
- A basic understanding of local and national guidelines, policy and procedure relating to safeguarding children.
It is recommended that people undertake Safeguarding Children & Young People Refresher Training every 3 years following completion of this training.
Trainer details
This training is delivered by the Leeds Safeguarding Partnership Business Unit.
Delivery
This session will be delivered live on Zoom and participants will need to attend the full session in a private space with no distractions.
This is an interactive session and in order for participants to fully engage we ask that the training is accessed via a laptop or PC only (no mobile phones or tablets).
Delegates’ videos and microphones should be switched on throughout the whole session.
Only one delegate per device and if accessing in the same room as a colleague please ensure headsets are used.
Preparation for the session
This course should be accessed through your own agency or organisation.
For those smaller third sector, voluntary or private sector organisations (who do not have access to training within their own agency) this course is available via the LSCP.
Introduction to safeguarding children training only needs to be completed once. We recommend that you update your safeguarding training every 3 years by completing Safeguarding Children & Young People Refresher Training.
Charging
There is a charge for all private organisation for attendance and non-attendance to training. Third Sector / not-for-profit agencies who have an annual turnover of more than £250k will be charged £50.
LSCP partner agencies, or Third Sector / not-for-profit agencies who have an annual turnover of less than £250k (voluntary, community, faith) will be exempt from charges to attend learning events. With the exemption of non-attendance as stated below.
All delegates from any agency will be charged £50 for non-attendance at the live session, so you will need to provide billing details when you register for the course. For further information see our Charging Policy.
Dates/Times
- Tuesday 14 April 2026, 9am to 3.15pm course full
- Wednesday 29 April 2026, 9am to 3.15pm course full
- Tuesday 23 June 2026, 9am to 3:15pm
- Thursday 2 July 2026, 9am to 3:15pm
Book your place on Introduction to Safeguarding Children & Young People training
Working together to safeguard children and young people
This online multi-agency course is for any member of staff who is considered to be a lead professional for safeguarding or may be involved in multi-agency approaches to safeguarding children and young people in their organisation. This may include undertaking s47 (child abuse) enquiries, working with complex cases, or those who would regularly attend Initial Child Protection Conferences.
- Tuesday 5 May 2026, 9am to 3.30pm
- Thursday 4 June 2026, 9am to 3.30pm
- Tuesday 8 September 2026, 9am to 3.30pm
- Wednesday 30 September 2026, 9am to 3.30pm
Book your place on Working Together to safeguard children and young people
Training for trainers
A multi-agency training day to enable organisations to deliver the LSCP Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Young People session in-house.
Participants will be trained to deliver the LSCP Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Young People training course and will also be given a copy of the resources for use in-house.
This course is aimed at private organisations and Third Sector / not-for-profit agencies.
Participants must have completed the Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Young People either through their own agencies or the LSCP and have a good understanding of safeguarding and their organisations policies and procedures before they can attend this training.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course participants should be able to:
- Understand the importance of safeguarding and the need for Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Young People training
- Understand how adults learn and the different learning styles
- Learn techniques of how to handle difficult training situations
- Deliver the LSCP Introduction to Safeguarding Children and Young People course in-house
- Understand the process of support from the LSCP to in-house trainers.
Date available:
- Tuesday 12 May 2026, 9.15am to 4.15pm
Book your place on Training for Trainers
From the wider safeguarding sector
New research on child sexual exploitation
The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse has published the second edition of Key messages from research on child sexual exploitation.
This evidence based briefing brings together the latest UK research to highlight what we know about how child sexual exploitation happens, who is most at risk, and what effective responses look like. It explores key themes including definitions and myths, vulnerability and inequality, online and group based exploitation, and the importance of trauma informed, multi agency approaches.
The document is designed to support frontline practitioners, commissioners and safeguarding leaders, providing clear research insights to inform decision making, strategy and everyday practice.
Read the full paper: Key messages from research on child sexual exploitation (second edition)
From Excluded to Included: Parents as Partners in Child Exploitation
This report from Ivison Trust explores the experiences of parents and carers whose children have been criminally or sexually exploited. From Excluded to Included draws on new evidence from parent interviews to understand whether the safeguarding systems in place are equipped to support and are responsive to the needs of families living with child exploitation.
Safeguarding in sports clubs – new video
This short video from the Yorkshire Sport Foundation highlights key safeguarding responsibilities in sports clubs, helping practitioners understand common risks in sports settings and what good safeguarding practice looks like. It covers recognising concerns, clear roles and responsibilities, and the importance of sharing concerns through the right safeguarding pathways.
Watch: Safeguarding in Sports Clubs – a guide for practitioners