Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026)
The government have published the revised statutory guidance – Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026). The guidance replaces Working Together (2023) and applies to all organisations and professionals who work with children and young people. The guidance sets out what organisations must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18 in England (25 for care leavers and young people receiving support through EHC plans).
WT26 Summary of Changes
Below is a document summarising the main changes in Working Together 2026:
Guidance for children and young people
Alongside the statutory guidance the Government have produced resources tha practitioners can with children, young people and their families:
- Working together to safeguard children: an illustrated guide for children, young people and their families
- the short accompanying animated video
- a toolkit of resources
These materials were co-produced with children and young people, along with the Department for Education’s Social Care Advisory Board, facilitated by the National Children’s Bureau.
Practitioners can request the toolkit by emailing: [email protected].
Children’s Social Care National Framework
In addition the Government has published a revised National Framework for children’s social care. The Childrens Social Care National Framework 2026 reinforces the purpose of local authority children’s social care, the principles by which children, young people and families should be supported, the enablers that should be in place so the system is effective, and the outcomes that should be achieved so that children and young people can grow up to thrive.
The National Framework puts the voices of children, young people and families at the heart of practice, so they can have a say in how they are supported.
The National Kinship Care Strategy
Published alongside Working Together 2023 and the Children’s Social Care National Framework, the National Kinship Care strategy sets out how kinship carers will be supported as part of family networks to provide care for children within their wider family when it is not possible for their parents to care for them at home.
Stable Homes Built on Love
The National Kinship Care strategy, Working Together 2026 and the Children’s Social Care National Framework form part of the governments delivery of the Stable Homes Built on Love strategy. The strategy can be viewed below:
