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CASPAR briefing

Publication date March 2026
Key changes introduced in Working together to safeguard children 2026

The Department for Education (DfE) published a new edition of its statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children in March 2026.1 This 2026 edition replaces Working together to safeguard children 2023.

The guidance outlines what organisations and agencies must and should do to help, protect and promote the welfare of all babies, children and young people under the age of 18 in England.

This briefing outlines the main changes in the 2026 edition, including updates around:

  • identifying, understanding and challenging racism and discrimination
  • recognising the specific needs and experiences of babies
  • understanding the impact of domestic abuse on children and families
  • consideration of children experiencing simultaneous harms or multiple harms
  • strengthened inclusion of children in care
  • the link between online harm and harm experienced in person.

References

Department for Education (DfE) (2026) Working together to safeguard children: a guide to multi-agency working to help, protect and promote the welfare of children. [Accessed 25/03/2026].
Working together to safeguard children 2026: summary of changes
Download the briefing (PDF)

2023 updates to Working together

These include:

  • multi-agency expectations for all practitioners involved in safeguarding and child protection
  • principles for working with parents and carers
  • new roles and responsibilities for the three safeguarding partners (local authorities, the police, the health service)
  • information around supporting children who have disabilities
  • expectations when tackling harm outside the home.

> Read our CASPAR briefing on Working together 2023

2020 updates to Working together

These include:

  • emphasis that the Data Protection Act 2018 and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) do not prevent the sharing of information to keep children safe
  • guidance on the duty to refer any service users who may be homeless to a housing authority
  • updated guidance on the impact of domestic abuse, including controlling and coercive behaviour, on children
  • guidance around how child mental health problems may indicate abuse, neglect or exploitation.

> Read our CASPAR briefing on Working together 2020

2018 updates to Working together

These include:

  • information around when a child may need early help
  • the need for organisations to have clear policies for dealing with allegations against people who work with children
  • changes to multi-agency safeguarding arrangements, including the introduction of ‘safeguarding partners’ in place of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs)
  • information on the process for carrying out national and local child safeguarding practice reviews
  • information on carrying out child death reviews.

> Read our CASPAR briefing on Working together 2018

CASPAR briefings

Our CASPAR briefings help people working or volunteering with children and young people understand changes to safeguarding and child protection policy and guidance. They also summarise key research and reports from independent bodies such as Ofsted and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.

> See the full list of briefings

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