South East Sector Led Improvement Programme (SESLIP)
The South East Sector Led Improvement Programme (SESLIP) is the name of our Regional Improvement and Innovation Alliance (RIIA). It is a membership group of all single/upper-tier local authorities in the South East that aims to:
- improve outcomes for children and young people across the South East
- establish a culture of honest and constructive dialogue and challenge within and between authorities
- demonstrate the capacity and capability of the sector to achieve a coherent and consistent self-improving system
We believe good children’s services are a product of reflective practice, professional supervision/peer challenge, effective leadership and independent audit.
SESLIP is founded on a Memorandum of Understanding which has been agreed nationally and in the South East. Kent County Council acts as the lead authority and Michael Bracey (Chief Executive, Milton Keynes), chairs the Programme Steering Group
Additionally, participating authorities have each signed a tailored Memorandum of Understanding to support the SE children’s sector-led improvement programme.
What we do
SESLIP supports the political and professional leadership and management of local authority children’s services to demonstrate, develop and share good practice. Our programmes support the development of children’s services as learning organisations, focusing on:
- identifying key strands of enquiry
- analysing and comparing operational data about the services
- using evidence to inform decisions, including evidence available from outside the region, where relevant
- using peer challenge and peer review
- building leadership capacity and capability, and
- developing standards of practice through supportive endeavour
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan which sets out the activities. Its aim is to identify ways in which local authorities in the South East can support each other to improve and look at how collective action can help address systemic issues within the region.
Featured News and Updates
Foundations webinar: Foster Care Practice Guide 10am-12noon Wednesday 7 October
On 17 October 2026 Foundations (What Works Centre for Children and Families) is hosting a webinar Strengthening foster care: Learning from evidence, practice, and lived experience
Foundations webinar: Reunification Practice Guide 10am-12noon Tuesday 10 November
On 10 November 2026 Foundations (What Works Centre for Children and Families) is hosting a webinar Reunification: learning from evidence, practice and lived experience
Evaluation of Dorset's Re-imagining pre-proceedings pilot and new journey guide
On 26 July 2026 FRG published an evaluation of Dorset’s re-imagining pre-proceedings pilot and a new journey guide local family justice areas
Upcoming Events
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PSW Network meeting
14 September 2026
14:00 - 16:30 -
SE19 SEND Mainstream Inclusion Community of Practice - session 1
Contact Sonia Dayal for further information on sonia.dayal@sdsa.net
MS Teams
17 September 2026
10:00 - 12:00 -
SESLIP Steering Group #48
21 September 2026
14:00 - 15:30 -
Commissioners Network meeting
Network members please contact Chris Baird for a meeting link
MS Teams
25 September 2026
13:00 - 14:30
Our Partners
The Association of Directors of Children’s Services Ltd (ADCS) is the national leadership association in England for statutory directors of children’s services and their senior management teams.
The LGA is a politically-led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government.
Solace (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers) is the representative body for senior strategic managers working in the public sector.
The purpose of this website
The primary purpose of this website is to provide information and updates on the programme to staff of the 19 contributing authorities and to make this accessible to anyone who does business with them or an interest in improving Children’s Services.
The ‘latest news’ page gives a snapshot of current activity and is updated weekly.
Contact details for people leading the initiatives on behalf of the SESLIP are provided on the relevant pages or you can contact the Programme Manager, Richard Tyndall: richard.tyndall@richardtyndall.co.uk 07880 787007