Source: The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel

Date: 26 May 2022

The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel has published its national review into the murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson. The report includes specific findings and recommendations for both cases, as well as wider analysis and national recommendations for child protection practice in England. Findings from both cases include: concerns raised by wider family members were not properly investigated; there were significant gaps in understanding around what daily life was like for both children; and there were weaknesses in information sharing and seeking between agencies that impacted decision making. National recommendations include: a new multi-agency model for child protection investigation, planning, intervention and review; and the introduction of new multi-agency child protection units in every local authority area. NSPCC Learning will publish a CASPAR briefing summarising the contents of the report next week.

Read the news story: Star Hobson and Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: family concerns disregarded – report
Read the report: Child protection in England

Source: DfE

Date: 20 May 2022 

The Department for Education (DfE) has published an updated version of its statutory Keeping children safe in education guidance for schools in England, which will come into force on 01 September 2022. Annex F of the of the new guidance sets out the changes made, including: a new paragraph on domestic abuse added to the list of safeguarding issues all staff should be aware of, new information on the importance of schools talking to parents about children’s access to online sites when away from school, and a new paragraph highlighting the importance of ensuring that children understand the law on child-on-child abuse is there to protect them rather than criminalise them.

Read the guidance: Statutory guidance: keeping children safe in education
Download the guidance: Keeping children safe in education 2022 (PDF)

Source: Independent review of children's social care

Date: 23 May 2022 

Read the report: The independent review of children’s social care: final report

Child sexual abuse

Source: IICSA 

Date: 12 May 2022

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales has published an anthology of the accounts of more than 1,100 victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. The accounts were gathered as part of the Inquiry’s Truth Project, which provided an opportunity for victims and survivors to share their experiences and make suggestions on how to better protect children in the future.

Read the news story: Inquiry publishes 1,100 child sexual abuse accounts to amplify survivors’ voices 
Read the anthology: Experiences shared

Source: VRU

Date: 12 April 2022

The London Mayor’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has published a report into child and adolescent to parent violence and abuse (CAPVA) in London. Findings include: other children in the household may also be subjected to abuse or be neglected due to parental attention being focused on the child who has been displaying abusive behaviour. There is also evidence to suggest that the behavioural patterns of the child may lead to loss of support networks making them vulnerable to exploitation. Recommendations include: encouraging services to consider CAPVA in context with other child protection or safeguarding concerns, and identifying and recognising the support needs of the whole family.

Download the report: Comprehensive needs assessment of child/adolescent to parent violence
and abuse in London (PDF)

Read the Guardian article: At least 40% of child-to-parent violence in UK unreported, study finds