This document is incorporated into the SESLIP Regional Improvement Plan 2026-2027 which was approved at the SESLIP Steering Group on 14 July 2026. It appears in the plan as Appendix 4. Please refer to the Regional Improvement Plan for a full description of SESLIP activities. The 23 July amendments requested by DfE relate to adding in a line for Project 6, omitted in error, and further detail on targets and spend profile throughout. The 7 August amendments resolve a rounding error on the sums allocated to CSC and SEND project management, and adjust the quarterly targets on project 3.
These projects have been developed to meet DfE stated requirements and support the 3 CSC Enablers and 4 CSC Outcomes
Enablers
Enabler 1
Multi-agency working is prioritised and effective — children, young people and families stay together and get the help they need.
Enabler 2
Leaders drive conditions for effective practice — children and young people are safe in and outside of their homes.
Enabler 3
The workforce is equipped and effective — children and young people are supported by their family network.
Outcomes
Outcome 1
Children, young people and families stay together and get the help they need.
Outcome 2
Children and young people are supported by their family network.
Outcome 3
Children and young people are safe in and outside of their homes.
Outcome 4
Children in care and care leavers have stable, loving homes.
DfE Requirement 1: Increase CSC Data Capability and Capacity
Each RIIA should:
- Continue to collect and report the core children’s services indicators for FY26-27.
- Develop data collection and analytical capability within the RIIA to make effective use of local and regional CSC data.
Use data insights to strengthen RIIA oversight, drive improvement activity, and inform senior regional leaders and the Children’s Improvement Board (CIB).
| Project | Reform programme & NF outcomes and enablers | Benefits | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project No. 1: Data benchmarking | All four outcomes | Better transparency and understanding between partners at ICB partnership level Ability to spot trends in data and react with better more timely decisions Please confirm that this is how you wish the final text to appear – Yes happy with this | All 19 SE LAs engage with data collection and workshops, across the breadth of CSC reporting. Work around Insights and Trends is still being developed, to ensure the appropriate audience is engaged and outputs are useful. | By the end of March 2027, we will deliver annual CSC benchmarking reports for RIIA, Peer Challenge, Early Help and Adoption Services Each quarter we will deliver quarterly CSC benchmarking reports for RIIA, Peer Challenge, Early Help and Adoption Services have engaged with all 19 SE LAs in both data collection and workshop participation have organised and held quarterly meetings of the SE data leads network and Insights & Trends workshops |
DfE Requirement 2: CSC Regional Diagnostics
Regional diagnostics should assess whether local authorities and the wider region have the core capabilities – and regional systems – needed to deliver and sustain reform. RIIAs should use the core principles of the National Framework to identify strengths and effective practice against the Framework’s outcomes and enablers that can be disseminated, as well as areas of improvement that can be supported by regional improvement.
Diagnostics should also specifically draw out progress in implementing the following:
- Delivery of Families First Partnership Programme reforms – Identify areas of strength and effective practice against the core components of FFP which can be shared, as well as areas for improvement that can be supported by the CSC universal improvement offer – specifically via the Families First for Children Pathfinders.
- Regional Care Co-operatives – support and prepare the region for the role out of RCCs, driving forward arrangements at a regional or sub-regional level.
- Regional Fostering Hubs – Support the developmentof local and regional systems to better manage the market and increase the number of foster carers locally.
Diagnostics should also consider how Local Government Reorganisation will impact the delivery of the above.
| Project | Reform programme & NF outcomes and enablers | Benefits | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project No. 2: DCS Peer Challenge | All four outcomes | DCS Peer Challenge has a long-established place in the region, with DCSs having renewed their commitment to this project several times over at least 10 years DCSs continue to value the support and challenge they give (and receive) in the partnerships This project will conduct a review of the methodology used, and provide a diagnostic report on the three headlines of FFP; RCC and RFH | We have strongly established triad groups of three (and four) LAs Our RCC, Home and Future is established Our regional fostering hub, LASFE, is being merged into the RCC | By Nov 26, engage with other Regions across the country to understand how they are approaching regional diagnostics and to identify any transferrable learningBy Nov 26, publish findings from insights and models from other Regions By Nov 26, publish feedback on the current SESLIP Self-Assessment and Peer Challenge model, and recommendations for how the process might evolve to meet the RIIA Requirements and better support regional priorities By Nov 26, complete the diagnostic activity under the headings “FFPP delivery”, “RCC roll-out”, “Regional Fostering Hubs”, and “LGR” should be located to best effectBy Nov 26, consider how and when to support the LGR transition for Surrey, East Surrey and West SurreyBy Mar 27 complete a further round of peer challenge activity |
DfE requirement 3: CSC Regional Systems
Each RIIA should:
- Collate and share learning from the Regional Diagnostics with LAs across the region through a regional community of practice for children’s social care.
- Deliver regional solutions that support improvement to the regional systems identified through the diagnostic process.
Establish effective partnerships with key regional stakeholders and safeguarding partners, specifically leaders in police, health and education.
| Projects | Reform programme & NF outcomes and enablers | Benefits | Baseline | Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project No. 5: Take Your Place | All four outcomes | This programme is designed to equip leaders in SEND and CSC for the complex and challenging environment faced. It aims to provide the skills, knowledge and support needed to deliver effective services. It also helps develop a pipeline for future leaders in the region. | SESLIP has developed an offer to improve leadership of SEND and Children services over the last 5 years. This has contributed to developing a pipeline of potential Assistant Directors and Directors in Children’s services | Working with The Staff College as our delivery partner, by end Q2 we will publish a programme including: Delivery of leadership additional cohort of SESLIP programme for SEND and CSC leaders. Offering joint leadership VUCA workshops to partners in each of the 4 ICB areas 20 places on the core leadership programme, 60-80 leaders completing the VUCA workshops 10 people accessing the BALI programme. |
| Project No. 6: CSC Workforce Agency and MoU | All four outcomes | The region values agency staff to cover vacancies and short term requirements but aspires to minimise their use. The benefits of this are better value for public money, more consistent levels of service and less time and energy deployed in inducting and training temporary staff. | 13.4 % Agency worker rate – FTE (as at 30 September 2025) For the fourth year in a row the SE use of agency staff reduced by this measure and others | The target is a further 1% (to 12.4%) reduction in the use of agency staff across the region. |
| Project No. 16: Transformation Network | All four outcomes | Greater connectivity, relationships and sharing of progress around FFP across the region. Greater regional progress in reform delivery through informal support between LAs which are more and less progressed. | 24 meetings a year relating to case management systems 8 regional transformation leaders’ meetings a year regarding FFP and wider children’s transformation 60% attendance on average Baseline mapping of reform implementation and readiness | Each quarter we will deliver 6 meetings relating to case management systems 2 regional transformation leaders’ meetings regarding FFP and wider children’s transformation, with 70% attendance on average |
| Project No. 27: Kinship Connected part 2 | Outcome 2: children and young people are supported by their family network | Improved confidence among kinship carers Reduced placement breakdown | No baseline as service not yet in place | By end Q2 we will confirm the identity of 5 participating LAsBy end Q3 we will have identified 80 Kinship Carers across the 5 LAs who will participate in the projectBy end Q4 we will publish and interim report on the impact of the support packages, including statistics on placement breakdown and carers’ reported confidence |