Guidance | Children’s Social Care National Framework - March 2026

Introduction

This briefing provides an overview of the updated Children’s Social Care National Framework, setting out the key elements of the statutory guidance and the recent changes made up to March 2026 - summarising the purpose of the framework, who it applies to, the practice expectations it establishes, and the significance of the latest updates within the wider context of children’s social care reform.

What the guidance is:

The Children’s Social Care National Framework is statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education to set out a unified national vision for children’s social care. It defines the purpose of children’s social care, the principles that should underpin practice, and the outcomes that local authorities and partners are expected to achieve for children, young people and families. The framework emphasises safeguarding throughout, supporting early help, decisive intervention where there is risk of harm, and ensuring children in care grow up with stability, safety and love. It also clarifies the enablers required for high‑quality practice, particularly effective multi‑agency working, strong leadership and a skilled workforce.

Who the guidance is for:

The framework is designed primarily for those working within local authority children’s social care, including practitioners, managers and senior leaders. It also applies to the wider safeguarding system:

·        Police

·        health professionals

·        education settings

·        voluntary/community organisations

The outcomes it sets out can only be achieved when agencies collaborate effectively. By outlining shared responsibilities and expectations, the guidance ensures consistency and alignment across all professionals involved in supporting and safeguarding children and families.

What the guidance outlines

The document sets out four key national outcomes that all local systems should work towards. These include:

·        helping children, young people and families to stay together with the support they need;

·        ensuring children are safe in and outside the home through strong and coordinated child protection;

·        strengthening family networks, particularly through kinship care and early family decision‑making;

·        ensuring that children in care and care leavers experience stable, loving homes and sustained support.

These outcomes are supported by three enablers, multi‑agency working, leadership and workforce development, which are positioned as essential conditions for delivering consistently high‑quality practice. To support implementation, the framework is accompanied by the national children’s social care dashboard and a suite of evidence‑based Foundations practice guides covering kinship care, parenting through adversity and mentoring/befriending.

What has changed

Since the initial publication in 2023, the framework has undergone several updates, with the most recent changes published in March 2026. These include new and updated links to practice guidance such as the Mentoring and befriending guide and the Parenting through adversity (children 0–10) guide, strengthening the evidence base available to practitioners. The updates also reflect developments in national social care reform, emphasising integrated Family Help services, expanded kinship care support and strengthened multi‑agency child protection arrangements. Additionally, an updated accessible guide for children and young people was released in March 2026, alongside ongoing work to ensure the framework aligns with broader reform measures proposed through legislation such as the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.

Why the updates matter

The changes reinforce a clearer, more coherent national direction for practice and ensure that local authorities can align their systems with current reform priorities. The strengthened focus on early, integrated support and on the role of family networks responds to longstanding pressures within the system, aiming to reduce unnecessary placements and improve children’s experiences of care. By enhancing expectations around multi‑agency working and leadership, the updates support safer decision‑making, better consistency across local areas and more confident professional practice. The inclusion of new evidence‑based practice guides and accessible materials also encourages improved engagement, transparency and accountability for children, young people and families.

Actions for professionals and leaders

• Review and align local practice frameworks with the four outcomes and three enablers (effective multi‑agency working, leaders who create the right conditions for effective practice, a well‑equipped and supported workforce).
• Strengthen multi‑agency safeguarding arrangements, ensuring integrated responses and clear thresholds.
• Update staff training and professional development using Foundations practice guides.
• Use the Children’s Social Care Dashboard to support audit, performance and planning.
• Promote family‑network‑led approaches, including kinship care and family group decision making.
• Communicate key changes across staff, partners, children, young people and families using accessible formats.

Links and supporting resources

• Children’s Social Care National Framework (GOV.UK)
• Guide for Children and Young People (Accessible Version)
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/childrens-social-care-national-framework/childrens-social-care-national-framework-guide-for-children-and-young-people-accessible-version
• Foundations Practice Guides
  – Kinship Care
  – Parenting Through Adversity (0–10; 11–18)
  – Parenting Disabled Children
  – Mentoring and Befriending