The Southport Inquiry: Understanding Risk, Responsibility and Multi-Agency Safeguarding

This session explores the key findings and learning from the Southport Inquiry, which examined the circumstances leading up to the fatal attack in Southport on 29 July 2024. Through a review of the chronology and agency involvement, participants will consider how warning signs emerged over several years and examine the challenges of assessing cumulative risk across multiple services.

The session will focus on themes including professional curiosity, information sharing, risk ownership, online harm, neurodiversity and safeguarding, and the importance of effective multi-agency working. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on how concerns are identified, communicated and acted upon, and how practitioners can ensure that no child or family “falls through the gaps” between organisations.

By the end of the session, participants will have a greater understanding of the Inquiry’s findings and be able to apply the learning to strengthen safeguarding practice within their own role and across the wider partnership.