National Learning and Reports

Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel report about safeguarding children from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds.
The analysis explored what happened to 53 children from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds who were the subject of child safeguarding reviews. It found that there is a significant silence in talking about race and racism within child safeguarding practice. This silence often renders the safeguarding needs of Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage children invisible, both in practice and in the system for learning from reviews.
The report highlights that there needs to be a firm commitment and resolve to learn and work differently to address the specific safeguarding needs of Black, Asian, and Mixed Heritage children. This means challenging our practice, how services are designed and delivered, and carefully scrutinising the impact of racial bias within child safeguarding practice reviews. This is essential if we are to ensure that Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage children are safeguarded and receive the help and support they need to thrive and have happy and safe lives.
A briefing paper can be accessed here: [Title] with a short video sharing the key findings here: “It’s Silent”: Race, racism and safeguarding children

The national review analysed 136 serious child safeguarding incidents, and 41 related serious case reviews (SCRs) and local child safeguarding practice reviews (LCSPRs).
It explores the specific challenges which feature in the identification, assessment, and response to child sexual abuse within the family environment.
It sets out recommendations and findings for national government and local safeguarding partners to protect children at risk.
The NSPCC briefing summarises the findings and recommendations from the report, including:
the importance of speaking to and listening to children
the need to understand parents’ vulnerabilities and challenges
the need for robust risk assessments
how to effectively respond to concerns of intrafamilial sexual abuse.
Summary of the National review into child sexual abuse within the family environment: CASPAR briefing

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s national safeguarding practice review into safeguarding children with disabilities and complex needs in residential settings in England.¹
The review was divided into two phases, the first looking at learning at the local level, and the second looking at implications at the national level.  
The government published its response to phase two of the review in December 2023.²
Our briefing summarises findings from the two phases of the review and the government’s response.
Phase one was published as a report in October 2022 and looked at allegations of abuse and neglect of children in private residential settings in Doncaster that were operated by the Hesley Group.
The phase two report, published in April 2023, looked at systemic issues arising from the first report; and recommendations to improve the lives of children with disabilities and complex health needs living in residential settings.
The government’s response addresses the panel’s recommendations in phase two and emphasises the need to keep disabled children in residential settings safe.
An NSPCC summary of the findings can be accessed here: Summary of Safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings – CASPAR briefing

This review sets out recommendations and findings for national government and local safeguarding partners to protect children at risk of serious harm.
It examines the circumstances leading up to the deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson and considers whether their murders reflect wider national issues in child protection.
A full partnership briefing including learning themes and recorded learning event is available here: NYSCP
Partnership briefing document: Learning from Serious Case Reviews

This briefing paper from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is part of an ongoing series of publications to share information arising from work undertaken by the panel with:
safeguarding partners
those working in child protection
The purpose of this briefing is to share learning from analyses of rapid reviews and local child safeguarding practice reviews (LCSPRs) to inform the work of safeguarding partners.
The briefing explores common themes and patterns identified across reviews and highlights practice issues raised by safeguarding partners from across England.

This paper sets out key findings from a thematic analysis of rapid reviews and local child safeguarding practice reviews where domestic abuse featured.
It summarises the most common themes that emerged in relation to multi‑agency safeguarding for children who are victims of domestic abuse and includes examples of practice and recommendations.
The NSPCC briefing summarises the key findings and recommendations from the Panel briefing around:
the effectiveness of multi-agency practice in safeguarding children where domestic abuse has contributed to serious incidents
what works in response to protecting children from domestic abuse
how services and practice might be improved to support children as victims of domestic abuse.
A summary of the multi-agency safeguarding and domestic abuse briefing

This is the fifth annual report from the independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.
It looks at the child safeguarding system, based on serious child safeguarding incidents occurring between April 2023 and March 2024.
It highlights key themes and patterns in practice for national government and local safeguarding partners to improve the protection of vulnerable children.
The Panel identified three spotlight themes.
Theme 1: Safeguarding children with mental health needs
Theme 2: Safeguarding pre-school children with parents with mental health needs
Theme 3: Extrafamilial harm
An NSPCC summary document can be accessed here: caspar-briefing-panels-annual-report-23-24.pdf