Local authorities will have new statutory duties in relation to Family Group Decision Making from summer 2026, Government announces

This is one element of an implementation plan for local partners that sets out next steps for reform of the children’s social care system, published by the Department for Education today (21 May).

According to the implementation plan, from Spring 2026, local partners will be expected to continue with the set-up of the Families First Partnership programme – aimed at rebalancing children's social care toward earlier intervention, whilst strengthening multi-agency child protection.

The DfE noted: “After receiving funding to deliver the programme nationally in 2025/26, during 2026/27 we expect local partners to embed reform so more children remain with their family.

“During this time:

• Every local authority should be implementing a single offer of Family Help for children and families, where there is no distinction between targeted early help and Child in Need services.
• Multi-agency child protection teams will be established by local safeguarding partners.
• Family Network Support Packages should be used where there are financial barriers to family networks supporting birth parents.”

The Government noted that from Summer 2026, local authorities will have new statutory duties in relation to Family Group Decision Making, which form part of the Families First Partnership programme.

Meanwhile, from 2027, safeguarding partners will have new duties to improve child protection practice.

As part of this, the Government outlined plans to make education providers and childcare settings ‘designated relevant agencies’, which will require safeguarding partners to engage these settings at operational and strategic levels of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

The reforms are underpinned by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

The DfE said: “Through phased implementation of the Act, we will help families to stay together where it is in a child’s best interest, including through ensuring children in care are in high-quality placements, expanding Ofsted’s powers to fine unregistered children’s homes; and cracking down on profiteering across the children’s homes market.

“In addition to this Act, The Crime and Policing Act 2026 also makes the reporting of child sexual abuse mandatory and introduces a new child criminal exploitation offence, new civil preventative orders, a new offence of cuckooing, a new offence to tackle internal concealment and a child cruelty register.”

The full implementation plan can be read here.

Lottie Winson