Families First Update for Safeguarding Partners – June 2026
Families First Update for Safeguarding Partners
Steering Group Update
Families First implementation continues to progress across Newcastle Children and Families, with partners from Health agencies and Northumbria Police working together to prepare for the next phase of delivery. Activity remains focused on developing an integrated Family Help approach, strengthening safeguarding arrangements, supporting workforce development and ensuring services are ready to deliver support in a more coordinated and accessible way for children, young people and families.
Workforce Development and Training
A comprehensive programme of workforce development is continuing across Family Help and related services. Training has been arranged for key practice roles, alongside wider team development activity and leadership training. As implementation develops, further learning needs are being identified to support practitioners in areas such as responding to risk, family support and signposting to appropriate services. Positive feedback has been received on early training activity, with additional sessions planned to support continued workforce development.
Partnership Working and Integrated Delivery
Partners continue to develop arrangements that support closer multi-agency working and integrated approaches to helping families. Alongside implementation activity, there is a strong focus on engagement with local partners and communities to ensure they understand the developing Families First model and how services will work together. Plans are being developed for future multi-agency engagement opportunities that will enable professionals and communities to learn more about Family Help services and safeguarding arrangements. Work also continues to strengthen representation from key safeguarding partners to support effective collaboration as new arrangements become embedded.
Practice Development and Service Improvements
The Family Help Assessment and associated practice standards continue to be refined to support consistent practice across services. Alongside this, the revised Level of Need framework is nearing completion and will provide partners with updated guidance to support decision-making and ensure children and families receive the right support at the right time.
Development of the Community Family Offer is also progressing. The revised approach places a stronger emphasis on direct work with children and families, targeted early help support and coordinated intervention. There is a growing focus on community engagement, outreach activity and delivering support through local venues to improve accessibility and better understand the needs of local communities.
Service Capacity and Family Support
Progress continues in building the workforce and service capacity needed to support implementation. Recruitment activity has strengthened the developing Family Help and safeguarding arrangements, with further work underway to fill remaining vacancies and ensure services are ready for future delivery requirements.
Partners are also continuing to explore how services can be made more accessible and responsive, particularly for families and communities that may not traditionally engage with support services. This work includes reviewing barriers to engagement and developing more family-friendly assessment and planning approaches.
Systems and Supporting Processes
Implementation activity remains focused on ensuring systems, processes and supporting documentation are aligned with the Families First model. Ongoing work includes development and testing of assessment tools, workflows, reporting arrangements and supporting guidance. A phased approach is being taken to implementation, recognising that some functionality and reporting arrangements will continue to evolve as services adapt to new ways of working.
Quality Assurance, Learning and Performance
Quality assurance remains a key area of focus. New audit activity and evaluation processes are being developed to support learning, consistency and effective decision-making across services. Partners are also exploring opportunities for wider multi-agency involvement in audit activity, helping to strengthen shared learning and continuous improvement across the safeguarding system. Alongside this, work is progressing to develop performance reporting and data quality arrangements to support ongoing monitoring of implementation and service impact.
Communication and Engagement
Partners have highlighted the importance of clear, practical information about Families First implementation and what the changes mean for professionals and families. Communication activity is therefore continuing to focus on providing concise and accessible information, including awareness materials, frequently asked questions and partner updates. Work is also continuing to improve public-facing information and referral pathways.
Summary
Families First implementation continues to move forward through a programme of partnership working, workforce development, service redesign and practice improvement. While a number of areas remain under development, partners are continuing to work together to refine arrangements, strengthen support for families and ensure that new approaches are embedded effectively across the safeguarding partnership. Continued communication, learning and collaboration will remain important as delivery progresses.
