Agencies represented:

Children’s Social Care (CSC);

CSC Quality Assurance and Safeguarding;

Education;

Culture and Community Safety (FJC);

South West London Integrated Care Board (ICB);

Croydon Health Services;

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM);

Metropolitan Police;

Independent Schools Representation;

CSCP Business Team

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

Overview

The Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Quality Assurance Group met on 26th August to review safeguarding assurance activity, consider progress against partnership priorities and examine how local safeguarding arrangements align with the expectations of Working Together 2026.

A key focus of the meeting was strengthening accountability across the safeguarding system through Section 11 assurance activity, performance monitoring and multi-agency audits. Partners discussed the importance of robust challenge, scrutiny and evidence-based decision-making to ensure safeguarding arrangements remain effective and responsive to emerging risks.

The Group also reviewed progress in identifying hidden and vulnerable children, considered future audit priorities and discussed proposed national changes to safeguarding and child protection arrangements.

Positive work highlighted

Members welcomed the strong response from most agencies to the latest Section 11 safeguarding assurance process. The exercise provided valuable insight into safeguarding governance, workforce development, policies and organisational safeguarding arrangements across partner agencies.

The meeting heard that Croydon continues to develop and strengthen its safeguarding performance dataset. New approaches aligned to Working Together 2026 are helping partners move beyond headline figures to better understand themes, vulnerabilities and emerging risks affecting children and young people.

Positive progress was also reported in work to identify and support children in private fostering arrangements. Increased awareness raising has led to more referrals, greater visibility of previously unidentified children and improved oversight through dedicated quality assurance arrangements. The Private Fostering Annual Report highlighted strong compliance with statutory visiting requirements and evidence of improved practice.

Partners also welcomed successful engagement with faith and community organisations. Recent collaboration has helped develop additional support for young people’s mental health and wellbeing and strengthened links between safeguarding services and community groups.

Challenges discussed

The Group expressed concern about incomplete participation in safeguarding assurance activity. While most agencies engaged well with the Section 11 process, some services did not submit returns, limiting the partnership’s ability to obtain full assurance regarding safeguarding arrangements. Members agreed that non-participation requires stronger escalation and follow-up.

Partners discussed challenges relating to safeguarding oversight of externally commissioned and contracted services. The meeting highlighted the need for clearer assurance that safeguarding arrangements are in place and operating effectively across all commissioned provision.

The Group also identified gaps within the safeguarding performance dataset, including some areas where data was unavailable or required further analysis. Members recognised that further work is needed to strengthen thematic analysis and evidence the impact of safeguarding activity against partnership priorities.

Discussion of proposed national reforms highlighted concerns around maintaining independent challenge and scrutiny within child protection processes, particularly where changes could reduce independence within decision-making arrangements.

Key discussion items

• Section 11 safeguarding assurance findings and agency participation.

• Strengthening safeguarding oversight of commissioned and contracted services.

• Development of the CSCP Performance Dataset and alignment with Working Together 2026.

• Future audit programme, including younger adolescents and online harm.

• Private Fostering Annual Report 2025/26 and awareness-raising activity.

• Partnership consultation response to proposed safeguarding and child protection reforms.

• Learning from community and faith sector engagement.

• Updates relating to Families First Partnership developments and emerging safeguarding risks.

  
  

Actions agreed

• Include clearer explanations of council and partnership services within future Section 11 reports to support effective scrutiny (Action 2.6.1).

• Escalate non-submission of Section 11 assurance returns with relevant senior leaders and seek completion of outstanding audits (Actions 2.6.2 and 2.6.3).

• Escalate concerns regarding safeguarding assurance arrangements for accommodation providers used for asylum-seeking families through regional safeguarding mechanisms (Action 2.7.1).

• Review safeguarding performance data relating to children with special educational needs and disabilities to ensure appropriate safeguarding oversight (Action 2.16.1).

• Further develop the performance dataset so it more clearly measures progress against partnership priorities and outcomes for children and families (Action 2.23.1).

• Strengthen awareness raising about private fostering through schools and education networks (Action 3.2.1).

• Ensure partner agencies contribute to the national consultation on safeguarding and child protection reform through the partnership response process (Action 4.4.1).

  
  

Closing statement

The Quality Assurance Group reaffirmed its commitment to effective scrutiny, continuous improvement and partnership accountability. Members recognised the positive progress being made in areas including private fostering, community engagement and safeguarding performance monitoring, while also acknowledging the need to address gaps in assurance, strengthen participation and ensure robust oversight of commissioned services.

Partners agreed to continue working together to improve outcomes for children and young people across Croydon.