Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 (WTSC 2026) is the latest statutory guidance for all organisations and practitioners working with children, young people and families in England. The guidance reinforces that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and places a stronger emphasis on early intervention, effective multi-agency working, Family Help, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice, and improving outcomes for children and families. It also strengthens expectations around safeguarding unborn babies, responding to domestic abuse and child sexual abuse, tackling online harms and exploitation, and recognising the impact of multiple and overlapping vulnerabilities.

WTSC 2026 builds on previous guidance by focusing not only on systems and processes, but on the real difference that safeguarding arrangements make to children's lives. Practitioners are encouraged to work collaboratively, listen to the lived experiences of children and families, share information appropriately, and take a coordinated approach to help, support and protection.

In Warrington, all practitioners should familiarise themselves with the updated guidance and consider how its principles can be embedded into everyday practice to strengthen early help, child protection, professional curiosity, and multi-agency decision-making.

Key themes include:

• Family Help and earlier intervention
• Stronger multi-agency accountability
• Anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice
• Safeguarding unborn babies and infants
• Domestic abuse and child sexual abuse
• Online harm, exploitation and multiple vulnerabilities
• Demonstrating impact on outcomes for children and families.