Redbridge local safeguarding children board

News:   30 April 2026

New!  Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill has now been enacted.   Please find below a message from senior leaders in the Local Authority Children’s Services.

“This is such an exciting time for us in Redbridge as our recent Pathfinder experience has supported the DfE with debates in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. This was achieved through attendance at reference groups which often considered great details within the bill, feedback to consultation documents, attendance at roundtable discussions with Ministers, sharing of case studies and DfE site visits.

The Act includes the duty on safeguarding partners (local authorities, the police and integrated care boards) to establish Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPTs) ending the debate of whether local authorities will do this or not. It also includes the duty to offer a Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) meeting at pre-proceedings. The Government expect local authorities to have fully operational reformed services across all localities by the end of March 2027.

This is a landmark moment for children’s social care, particularly for Redbridge and those of us who have been on the pathfinders journey. The bill will introduce the most transformative piece of child protection legislation in a generation, and a huge step in this government’s reform ambitions.

Congratulations to everyone who has been on this journey with us since 2024, you are part of a piece of social work and child protection history.

Thank you.

Catherine Worboyes and Sharon Springer”

New!  Child Safeguarding Practice Review (CSPR) Panel Website Launch

The Panel have launched a new website which not only provides access to all published guidance and resources, but also a ‘learning hub’.  The website development was informed by practitioners across a wide range of disciplines within the children and young people’s workforce and brings together on one site learning from safeguarding reviews and practical resources.  The website can be reached via the link below:

New!  NSPCC Childline Posters

NSPCC Learning has published a new series of Childline posters for primary and secondary schools,  to encourage children to use Childline if they need support.  There are also new posters which highlight support available to young people, such as the Calm Zone and Report Remove service.  All the posters can be downloaded and shared digitally or printed for display.

Words Matter Annual Report – Let’s build children up, not knock them down

The newly published Annual Report 2025 can be accessed via the link below:

Impact of Domestic Abuse on Children

Domestic abuse can impact children both directly and indirectly.  It is important for professionals and volunteers working with families to recognise the signs and respond to concerns to protect children and families effectively.  The NSPCC have developed a number of resources to support learning including:

If you haven’t yet read the Domestic Abuse Commissioner Report – Victims in their Own Right, published in April 2025,  it is recommended that you do.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026

The revised statutory guidance has been published and can be accessed via the link below:

The key changes have been summarised and a briefing provided by the NSPCC.

Additionally, the Department for Education (DfE), have updated the Children’s Social Care National Framework.

Independent Parental Advocacy Service

The Borough have just launched a new Independent Parental Advocacy Service for parents that are going through safeguarding procedures with their children.  Further information can be found in the leaflet and flyer below:

Autism and Suicide Awareness Training

A free elearning module is available from Zero Suicide Alliance.  The course, which has been co-produced with people from the autistic community, lasts approximately one hour and can accessed via the link below:

The course provides information about the link between autism and suicide risk, shares real experiences, and provides guidance to spotting the signs and supporting an autistic person.  It is recommended for those working with people with autism.

Reminder – Contact with Local Authority – Children’s Social Care

This is a reminder that professionals wishing to make a safeguarding referral, request for information or services, or a notification should contact LBR Children’s Services direct using the on-line portal (link below):

Please do not send referrals, copies, or information sharing requests to the Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership (RSCP), which is a multi-agency strategic body that doesn’t commission nor deliver services, or hold case records.  Any case work communication with the RSCP outside of Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (CSPRs) could represent a data breach and will also potentially cause a delay in response.

RSCP Training Programme 2025 – 2026 

Our 2025/26 Redbridge Safeguarding Children Partnership Training Programme, provides learning opportunities for multi-agency professionals and volunteers working with children and families in Redbridge.  This year’s Programme offers a mix of in-person and online training and some free online briefings, arranged in four parts:

  1. Understanding Safeguarding Risks and Responding to Learning
  2. Contextual Safeguarding and Child-on-Child Abuse
  3. Responding to Local and National Priorities
  4. Creating Safer Settings for Children and Families

If you are not currently on our mailing list, you can sign up here for regular updates.  Please forward this email to any of your colleagues or partners who you think would benefit.  Don’t forget there’s lots of information and resources on safeguarding on our website.

To book your place on any of our courses or briefings, please use our online booking form.  (N.B. if the course you’re interested in still has dates to be confirmed, you won’t be able to book yet but we’ll advertise dates as soon as they’re set).  For notes on training fees and cancellation policy, please click here and visit our website for full details of our training programme.  Please note we charge for non-attendance in most instances, even if the course is free to attend.  We look forward to seeing you on one of our briefings or courses soon!