The priority areas for the LSCP to undertake in 2026/27 will be to:
- Further strengthen safeguarding through Family Help - implement the Families First reforms and Working Together 2026 requirements, respond to further national changes as confirmed, communicate expectations on information sharing and consent, and prepare for mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse
- Further improve identification and responses to neglect - deliver the initial actions from the multi-agency neglect project and embed the learning in the design and implementation of Family Help
- Continue to strengthen partnership governance and assurance - review the subgroup structure, ensure clear purpose, accountability and effective delivery under the Executive’s leadership, and undertake a partnership self-assessment
- Continue to translate learning into practice - share and act on learning from Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Rapid Reviews, including through practitioner seminars facilitated by the Independent Scrutineer, and complete implementation of local responses to national panel publications
- Further strengthen the voice and influence of children and families - develop a consistent approach to involving them in the partnership’s work and demonstrating how their experiences and views inform decisions and action