Child Safeguarding Learning Support and Capability Project

Completed

Published 22 May 2025 · Commissioned by Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel Education

Index summary

Research about supporting local safeguarding partners to learn from serious child safeguarding incidents.

Original evidence

Report page Report PDF

Government Response

No formal government response published. This independent report (Research in Practice, University of East Anglia, VKPP) commissioned by the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel makes six priority recommendations 'for the panel and government'. The Panel chair's foreword states the Panel, government and safeguarding partners must reflect on the findings, but no government response document has been published. A prior government commitment (in the children's social care policy update) to resource the Panel in 2025/26 predates and is not a response to this report.

Recommendations

Recommendation Priority 1

National Government

Link to recommendation

Recommendation · source text

National Government should increase capacity in Local Child Safeguarding Partnerships using existing regional improvement structures.

Recommendation Priority 2

National Government and Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Link to recommendation

Recommendation · source text

National Government and Panel must introduce an approach to recruitment, accreditation, professional development and support of independent reviewers to address gaps in expertise and attract new professionals to the role, helping to diversify the current pool of independent reviewers.

Recommendation Priority 3

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Link to recommendation

Recommendation · source text

The Panel should develop and implement a 'Learning Framework'. A broad framework that sets out how systems learning needs to be identified and enabled at every level of the system i.e. recommendations that identify change at local, regional and national levels.

Recommendation Priority 4

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Link to recommendation

Recommendation · source text

The Panel must establish an EEDI protocol so systemic learning and reviews incorporate EEDI, demonstrated through tangible examples of various aspects of activity, e.g. commissioning.

Recommendation Priority 5

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel / Safeguarding Partnerships

Link to recommendation

Recommendation · source text

Share power with children, families and practitioners.

5a. The Panel must role model clear expectations for Safeguarding Partnerships to strengthen participation and co-production by:

requiring SPs to inform families and practitioners about RRs
requiring SPs to keep families and practitioners informed throughout the RR and LCSPR processes and about publication and impact
supporting SPs with dedicated 'how to' and good practice resources
establishing an 'Expert Group' made up of representatives from SPs, family members and practitioners from each of the regions, to inform Panel activity.

5b. SPs should strengthen participation and co-production practice through:

early and regular communication and feedback as part of reviews
systematic involvement of children, families and professionals in learning activity as a core part of SP's work.

Recommendation Priority 6

National Government

Link to recommendation

Recommendation · source text

National government should respond annually to key recommendations for government in national and thematic reviews. The government's response should be reported by the Panel in their annual reports. This will address the current gap in response to issues of national importance and complex, system wide issues. A narrow focus on local practice improvement, whilst important, is unlikely to shift structural and systemic issues.

No recommendations with this response.