Newsletters
Our Regional Improvement Plan can be found here
Our Impact Report published in March 2023 can be found here
If you would like to apply to be a SESLIP consultant, please follow this link to Kent Business Portal – KentBusinessPortal and after registering on the portal, search for Ref – SC240046 – SESLIP – DPS
Updates
80 children have died in temporary accommodation in one year
On 28 January the APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation published Child Mortality in Temporary Accommodation 2025
Headlines
The APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation can announce that out of the 3,605 child deaths in England, 80 have died while living in temporary accommodation.
These numbers were obtained from the National Child Mortality Database between 1st October 2023 and 30th September 2024, accounting for 3% of the total number of child deaths during this period.
LGA Early Years Conference – Thursday 20 March 9:00-4:30
On Thursday 20 March 2025 at Derby Mickleover Hotel DE3 0XX LGA is organising Speech, Language and Communication in the first 1001 days
If you have any questions please do email eitherelizabeth.hodgman@local.gov.uk or nicola.dossantos@local.gov.uk
Details
This event is free, it is suitable for
- Lead Members of Children’s Services,
- Directors and Assistant Directors, Heads of Service
- Those leading on Family Hubs and early years support.
- Birth to 19 Commissioners and
- Public Health Local Officers.
- Senior Children’s Librarians.
- Health Professionals
- Representatives from the Voluntary , Community and Faith Sector.
Reminders From Previous Weeks
ADCS Safeguarding Pressures Phase 9
On 15 January ADCS published Safeguarding Pressures Phase 9
Headlines
- Initial contacts stood at just over 3 million in the year ending 31 March 2024, up 8% since 2021/22 (Safeguarding Pressures Phase 8) and 122% since 2007/8 (Phase 1 of this research)
- Early help assessments increased 8% on Phase 8 of this research and are up 124% since Phase 4 of this research (2013/14) when this data began being collected
- Referrals were up 1% on Phase 8 of this research, and have risen 20% since 2007/8
- The numbers of Children in Need are down 6% since 2021/22 and down 27% since 2007/8
- Child protection plans were down 3% on 202/22 but up 83% since 2007/8
- The number of children in care as at 31 March 2024 was up 2% on 2021/22 and up 28% since 2007/8, when this research first began
New animation from Cafcass on explaining recommendations to children
On 14 January CAFCASS published “Sharing recommendations with you” which explains to children and young people what recommendations are and why it is important that they are understood clearly.
Headlines
The animated film was developed in collaboration with members of the Family Justice Young People’s Board (FJYPB), Cafcass leaders and practitioners
Other CAFCASS publications supporting children and young people is available here
SESLIP advice on National Alerts Protocol
On 2 January SESLIP published advice and guidance on operating the National Alerts Protocol
Thanks to colleagues from Bracknell Forest, East Sussex, Kent, Slough, and Windsor and Maidenhead (AfC) for their help in developing this advice and guidance.
Headlines
We have launched a regional approach for managing national alerts. This includes guidance, a model policy, notification form and email addresses for sending alerts to all UK nations. Please address all comments and feedback to
Raising the bar: Improving quality, stability and opportunity for care experienced young people
On Tuesday 11 February 2025 at 10 Union St, London SE1 1SZ, NCB is organising the ‘Raising the Bar’ conference, where we will focus on enhancing the quality, stability, and opportunities for care-experienced young people.
Details
- NCB’s vision is for all children to thrive. For care-experienced young people there remain barriers to realising this vision and we are committed to working with partners across the social care sector to improve quality, stability and opportunity and to uphold young people’s rights to high quality education, employment, care and support.
- Join us in London or Manchester for NCB’s ‘Raising the Bar’ conference, where we will focus on enhancing the quality, stability, and opportunities for care-experienced young people.
- Designed for local authority commissioners, placement teams and social workers, this conference aims to foster collaboration and share best practice. This event will feature a range of expert keynote speakers, including Ofsted on the learning from the initial inspections of supported accommodation, workshops on trauma-informed practice, and the opportunity to hear from care-experienced young people themselves.
The Staff College Festival 2025 – NOW BOOKING
The Staff College Festival 2025 runs from Monday 3 – Friday 14 February 2025.
This is an opportunity to grow your network, hear from industry experts and develop your skills, all for free – it’s The Staff College’s gift to you!
Testimonials from previous years:
“It was great to meet so many people in other areas of work. I really enjoyed attending.”
“Really insightful and made me think about how little we have moved forward and has given me more reasons to take this back to my SLM.”
“The breadth of events on offer are very relevant to my own context – refreshing! Good to hear from experienced speakers with high quality information and insight.”
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join the 2025 festival. Click here to book.
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (June 2024)
On 28 January the APPG for Households in Temporary Accommodation published Child Mortality in Temporary Accommodation 2025
On 15 January ADCS published Safeguarding Pressures Phase 9. The full report (pdf 91 pages) is here. The summary briefing (pdf 2 pages) is here
On 14 January CAFCASS published “Sharing recommendations with you” which explains to children and young people what recommendations are and why it is important that they are understood clearly.
On 7 January LGA published a briefing on CWSBill
On 7 January Barnardo’s published a briefing
On 3 January the House of Commons Library published a Research Briefing on the bill
On 19 December MoJ published Family Court Statistics Quarterly; July to September 2024
On 18 December DfE published Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Policy Summary Notes
On 17 December the government published the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
On 16 December the Children’s Commissioner published Illegal Children’s Homes
On 12 December the Centre for Young Lives published Too Skint for School
On 18 November DfE published Keeping Children Safe, Helping Families Thrive – breaking down barriers to opportunity
On 14 November DfE published Children looked after in England including adoptions 2023-2024
On 7 November Ofsted published Fostering in England 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024
On 31 October DfE published Resources to support new agency social worker guidance and employer standards
On 31 October DfE published Children in need: 2023 to 2024
On 24 October NAO published Support for children and young people with special educational needs
On 23 October IFS published The effect of Sure Start on youth misbehaviour, crime and contacts with children’s social care
On 9 October the Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse launched its Data Insights Hub
On 8 October the Law Commission published a consultation on Disabled Children’s Social Care. The consultation is open until 20 January 2025
On 7 October Coram Voice published Disability, disparity and demand
On 4 October LGA published its school attendance support survey 2024
On 2 October, LGA published Listening and engaging with care experienced individuals: A good practice guide. Includes case studies from: Medway and West Sussex
On 18 September The Fostering Network published Out of Pocket: Fairer Fees for Foster Carers
On 16 September Ofsted published revised school inspection handbooks
On 12 September, Ofsted (and other inspection agencies) published Joint targeted area inspection of the multi-agency response to children who are victims of domestic abuse – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
On 12 September MoJ published a consultation on possible changes to the Health Education and Social Care Chamber Rules
On 10 September The Children’s Commissioner published Children Missing Education: The Unrolled Story
On 10 September DfE published Key stage 2 attainment for academic year 2023/24