Working Together to Safeguard Children is the multi-agency statutory guidance that sets out expectations for the system that provides help, support and protection for children and their families, giving practitioners clarity about what is required of them individually and how they need to work in partnership with each other to deliver effective services.

In December 2023, this guidance was updated with a focus on the following core themes: improved multi-agency working, a clear child-centred approach in working with children and their families, and decisive and effective multi-agency child protection response. 

DfE are currently undertaking a review of these changes to Working Together to Safeguard Children introduced in 2023 and are seeking your feedback on the new principles for working with parents and carers, new multi-agency expectations, new national multi-agency child protection standards, and changes to section 17 including clarification that a broader range of practitioners can lead the direct work with children and their families. 

They want to develop an increased understanding of, and stronger evidence on, how Working Together 2023 is being implemented to inform future reviews of the guidance.

DfE are inviting responses from as many people as possible at all levels, across all agencies, to ensure they get a multi-agency response.  The survey opened on Monday 9^th December, and will close at 3pm on Friday 10th January.