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
Minority ethnic social care staff continue to face worse outcomes than white colleagues
On 1 May Skills for Care published the 2024 Social Care Workforce Race Equality Standard (SC-WRES),
Headlines
Black, Asian and minority ethnic workers remain half as likely to be appointed from a shortlist and almost 40% more likely to face disciplinaries than white counterparts, reveals latest race equality standard report
Council staff from minority groups fared less well than white counterparts on most of nine indicators designed to measure racial inequalities, including in relation to recruitment, pay, progression and being subject to disciplinary processes.
Maternal mental health
On 5 May Research in Practice published three videos on maternal mental health and pre-birth work.
Headlines
The videos look at the needs, including mental health challenges, that parents involved in pre-birth work commonly present with; the importance of embedding trauma-informed approaches in pre-birth practice; and the impact of a policy change around separation at birth on families in one local area
Attendance and behaviour ambassadors
On 16 May DfE published a Prior Indicative Notice (PIN) for Attendance and behaviour ambassadors
Headlines
The DfE is seeking individuals with an excellent understanding of improving and sustaining high standards for attendance and behaviour in schools; a clear understanding of the school system and the associated national policy challenges and opportunities; and the ability to build relationships and communicate credibly with education leaders around the country.
Ambassadors will be sector-facing leaders who promote the importance of school attendance and behaviour and the government’s activity in these areas. They will support the DfE in developing effective national attendance and behaviour policy and provide strategic oversight to the Government’s Attendance and Behaviour Hubs programme.
The Big Conversation NOW OPEN
The Big Conversation is the second release of The Big Listen,a workforce research project led collaboratively by LIIA and SESLIP.
The research includes a survey and a series of focus groups. Its purpose is to affect change with and not to the workforce. This is an exciting opportunity for child and family social workers, managers, students and agency workers to share their views and the greater the response, the more meaningful the impact!
Who should join?
we are launching our follow up to the Big Listen research that was completed in 2023. Information for social workers and managers about the project is set out in a poster.
We would really value your help in promoting this project to your children’s social workforce (including AYSE, students, managers and agency staff).
Reminders From Previous Weeks
Thousands of children facing domestic abuse alone as support services risk financial collapse
On 29 April the Domestic Abuse Commissioner published Victims in their own right?
Read the full report, executive summary, technical report, Tell Nicole report and press release. Watch the video where children and young people speak to the Commissioner about domestic abuse.
Headlines
Domestic Abuse Commissioner warns that the government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls (VAWG) is at risk without urgent funding for specialist domestic abuse services.
Over a quarter of domestic abuse services (27%) surveyed in England and Wales are having to turn children away from vital support amid severe funding shortages, new research by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner has revealed.
The findings – published in a new report examining children’s experiences of domestic abuse – exposes how thousands of children are being left with nowhere to turn after being subject to abuse, or facing long wait times for support, as services struggle to stay afloat amid rising demand.
NSPCC London and South East Virtual Open Day 10 June 2025
On 10 June NSPCC is holding its annual Virtual Open Day 15:00-16:30.
Who should join?
If you’re a senior leader, decision-maker, practitioner or educator in children’s services, education, healthcare, police or the voluntary sector, this event is for you.
More details from Amy Campo McEvoy [she/her], Hub Relationship Manager, London and South East NSPCC. Email: Amy.CampoMcEvoy@NSPCC.org.uk
Working together to safeguard children – updated statutory guidance
On 5 May DfE published additional working together to safeguard children material:
New resources
DfE added
- an illustrated guide (pdf , 60 pages),
- an animated video (You Tube, 1m 16s) and
- details of a toolkit for children, young people and their families, and practitioners working with them. Practitioners who would like to use the toolkit can request it from workingtogether.statutoryguidance@education.gov.uk
NOW BOOKING: Leading Change in SEND/AP
NDTi and The Staff College has opened bookings for Cohort 3 of “Leading Change in SEND/AP”.
Who should join?
2 x 2 day residentials in October and January at Warwick Conference Centre
2 x mid-course days
The cost of a place on the programme is £2,495 + VAT.
More details from hello@thestaffcollege.uk
Webinar :Sharing the science: Building babies’ brains
On Wednesday 18 June, from 14:00 – 15:30, LGA Early Years is holding a Sharing the Science webinar “Building Babies’ Brains”
Headlines
“We will be joined by Professor Louse Dalton and Georgina Marks who will share the resources that enable professionals and families to understand the science behind early brain development. Themes explored in this webinar will examine what the science tells us about this stage of development and invites the audience to consider how this can be built into wider public health messaging.
“We will also be joined by Helen Tan and Rebecca Sims who will share how the science has been applied practically in their professional roles within integrated family services and education.”
Now booking: Women in leadership October 2025
The Staff College is now booking cohort 20 of Women in Leadership.
Dates
Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th October 2025 (In Person)
Venue
London
Cost
£895 + VAT
Tools & Templates
We have produced a Regional Improvement Plan (June 2024)
On 5 May DfE published additional working together to safeguard children material.
On 29 April the Domestic Abuse Commissioner published Victims in their own right?
On 15 April Nesta published Innovation in the early years – lessons from three local test and learn partnerships
On 8 April Foundations (What works centre for children and families) published a Practice Guide for mentoring and befriending care experienced children and young people
On 7 April the Children’s Charities Coalition published Children’s services spending report: A long road to recovery – Local authority spending on early intervention children’s services 2010/11 to 2023/24
On 7 April MoJ published Family Court Statistics Quarterly: October to December 2024
On 4 April Ofsted published changes to the Social care common inspection framework (SCCIF)
On 3 April DfE advertised for a National Safeguarding Partner Multi-agency Facilitator (LA Lead)
On 2 April FRG released A film for parents with learning difficulties and disabilities: working with a child and family social worker (YouTube 10 minutes 33 seconds)
On 27 March Kinship published Raised by Relatives: the experiences of Black and Asian kinship carers
On 26 March Mutual Ventures published a range of case studies and a good practice guide in relation to the DfJ Reducing Time to Family Court programme
On 20 March the DfE published The Families First Partnership (FFP) programme guide
On 20 March DfE published Pupil absence in schools in England data for academic year 2023/24
On 18 March Kinship premiered a A powerful short film revealing what growing up in kinship care is like.
On 13 March Youth Endowment Fund published the Safe podcast
On 11 March LGA published a case study of Coventry CC’s Reunification Project
On 11 March the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel published It’s Silent: Race, racism, and safeguarding children
On 7 March the HoC Committee of Public Accounts published Improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children
On 7 March NSPCC published ‘Disguised compliance’: learning from case reviews
On 6 March TASO published Pathways into and through higher education for young people with experience of children’s social care
On 27 February ONS published Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), UK: February 2025
On 27 February the Children’s Commissioner published The educational journeys of children in secure settings
On 27 February DfE published Children’s social work workforce data for 2024
On 25 February Oftsed published Good decisions: supporting children aged 16 and 17 who need help when they are homeless
On 20 February the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman published Fostering better services: Helping to improve council services for foster carers and their children
On 13 February DfE published A level and other 16 to 18 results for academic year 2023-2024
On 7 February Foundations (previously the What Works Centre for Families and Children) published Parenting through adversity, the second in a series of practice guides commissioned by the DfE to support the roll-out of the children’s social care national framework
On 4 February Pause and Listen published In a Mother’s Mind: Birth mothers’ experiences of domestic abuse