Date of meeting: 18 March 2026

Agencies represented:

Children’s Social Care;

Croydon Commissioning;

South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB);

Croydon Health Services;

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM);

Metropolitan Police;

Schools;

Voluntary and Community Sector organisations;

Independent Scrutineer

CSCP Business Team

Chair: Risthardh Hare, Director of Children’s Social Care

Quality Assurance Group focuses on reform, safeguarding oversight and responding to system-wide pressures

Overview

The Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Quality Assurance Group met in March to review safeguarding arrangements, consider the impact of major national and local reforms, and discuss how the partnership can maintain strong safeguarding oversight during a period of significant change.

A key focus of the meeting was the implementation of the Families First Partnership programme and the wider transformation of children’s services. Partners discussed the opportunities presented by reform alongside the challenges created by increasing demand, organisational change and financial pressures across safeguarding agencies.

The Group also reviewed progress on quality assurance activity, safeguarding performance data, Section 11 assurance work and the partnership’s evolving governance arrangements.

Positive work highlighted

Partners welcomed positive feedback following a recent focused inspection visit to Croydon’s front door services. Feedback highlighted effective decision-making, timely responses to risk and strong multi-agency working, particularly between children’s social care and police colleagues.

The Group noted continued progress in developing safeguarding performance data and quality assurance arrangements. Performance information is increasingly supporting strategic decision-making and helping to identify emerging risks and areas requiring attention.

Members also recognised the significant contribution being made through engagement with voluntary, community and faith organisations. This work continues to strengthen safeguarding awareness, develop trusted relationships and improve links between community organisations and statutory services.

Positive progress was reported on multi-agency collaboration linked to the Families First Partnership agenda, with partners working together to shape future approaches to supporting children, young people and families through more joined-up services.

Challenges discussed

A significant area of discussion concerned workforce and capacity pressures across safeguarding services. Members considered the potential impact of proposed changes affecting health and police safeguarding functions and discussed the importance of assessing risks arising from these developments.

The meeting highlighted concerns regarding safeguarding capacity within specialist services and the implications for multi-agency arrangements, including the need to maintain effective representation within safeguarding processes.

Partners also discussed challenges associated with children entering police protection, including the availability of suitable placements and the experiences of children during the first stages of intervention. Members agreed that further learning and review activity would be beneficial.

Housing engagement remained an ongoing challenge for the partnership. Discussions continued regarding how best to strengthen participation, improve relationships and ensure housing services remain fully connected to safeguarding arrangements.

The Group further considered difficulties linked to attendance at safeguarding training, with high levels of non-attendance affecting the effectiveness of the partnership training programme.

Key discussion items

• Implementation of the Families First Partnership programme and wider children’s services transformation.

• Review of Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements and future governance requirements.

• The potential safeguarding impact of organisational changes affecting health and police services.

• Performance data quality, partnership oversight and developing thematic safeguarding analysis.

• Section 11 assurance work across safeguarding partners.

• Engagement with voluntary, community and faith sector organisations.

• Training attendance, workforce development and safeguarding learning.

• Police protection arrangements and the experiences of children entering safeguarding interventions.

  
  

Actions agreed

• Review the balance between in-person and virtual Quality Assurance Group meetings.

• Assess the safeguarding risks associated with proposed changes affecting health and policing services.

• Undertake further review and learning activity relating to police protection arrangements.

• Continue strengthening relationships between the local authority and voluntary, community and faith sector organisations.

• Improve the quality, consistency and completeness of safeguarding performance data.

• Review the Business Plan to ensure alignment with new safeguarding requirements and reforms.

• Develop future audit priorities based on identified safeguarding risks and partnership learning.

• Progress work with schools to strengthen safeguarding leadership, confidence and multi-agency collaboration.

  
  

Closing statement

The Quality Assurance Group reaffirmed its commitment to strong partnership working, constructive challenge and continuous learning. Members recognised the scale of change affecting safeguarding services but welcomed the progress being made through reform, quality assurance activity and stronger collaboration across agencies.

The Group agreed that maintaining a clear focus on safeguarding outcomes, partnership accountability and the voices of children and young people will remain essential as Croydon moves through the next phase of transformation.