Agenda item

26/00029 - Implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme

Minutes:

  1. Mr Webb introduced the report and outlined the implications of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026. He explained that the legislation introduced significant reforms to safeguarding, family support and children’s social care and would require local authorities to implement a new model of multi-agency working focused on prevention and early intervention.
  2. Ms Crisan, Director of Operational Integrated Children’s Services, advised that the Families First Partnership Programme represented a statutory requirement and that funding had been made available to support implementation. She explained that the Council had already undertaken extensive preparatory work and engagement with partners in anticipation of the reforms.
  3. In response to comments and questions it was said:
  1. Ms Crisan advised that the number of new posts required to support implementation was expected to be relatively small and that recruitment challenges were therefore not anticipated to be significant.
  2. Officers confirmed that development of the new operating model had already been underway for several months and that staff consultation would commence following approval of the decision. Implementation was expected to take place towards the end of 2026 or early 2027.
  3. In response to questions regarding safeguarding, officers emphasised that the Council’s statutory duties to protect children remained unchanged. Whilst the reforms promoted family-led decision-making wherever appropriate, children would continue to be brought into care where this was necessary to safeguard their welfare.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee considered and endorsed the proposed decision

Supporting documents: