Statutory guidance

Children'sChildren’s social care:care national framework

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From:
Department for Education
Published
15 December 2023
Last updated
318 DecemberMarch 20252026 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Children'sChildren’s social care national frameworkframework: statutory guidance

PDF, 389476 KB, 6652 pages

AnChildren’s illustrated guide to the children's social care national frameworkframework: Easy Read version

PDF, 1.483.85 MB, 1823 pages

Children'sChildren’s social care national framework: easyillustrated readguide versionfor children and young people

PDF, 4.192.23 MB, 2318 pages

Children’s social care national framework: guide for children and young people (accessible version)

HTML

Details

The national framework document is statutory guidance for those who work in local authority children’s social care. It includes relevant information for all safeguarding partners and agencies that work with children’s social care.

Statutory guidance showssets out what you must do to comply with the law. You must follow it unless there’s a good reason not to.

Alternative formats

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Additionalchoose versions

Practitionersthe canversion alsothat shareworks andbest use:for you:

  • the full statutory guidance
  • a British Sign Language video summary with audio and captions
  • an animated child, young person and family-friendly video
  • an illustrated guide,guide for children and young people
  • thean easyEasy readRead version

British Sign Language captionedversion

Supporting information for local authorities and audiosafeguarding summarypartners

There version

  • ouris animatedseparate guideinformation for local authorities and safeguarding partners on how to embed the frameworkguidance to improve practice
    • .

    Supporting information

    The national framework is also supported by the children’s social care dashboard. This brings children’s social care data together in one place to support learning and help everyone understand the progress made towards the outcomes and enablers set out in the national framework.

    There is separate information for local authorities and safeguarding partners on how to embed the guidance.

    Foundations practice guides

    DfEThe hasDepartment alsofor Education has commissioned Foundations to develop a series of evidence-based practice guides that local authorities can use to help them achieve the outcomes set out in thisthe framework.

    The practice guides that Foundations has published so far are:

    Local authorities and leaders can share and use the practice guides along with athe reflective tool that willaccompanies accompany each one.

    Guides are topical and more will be published as systematic reviews on each evidence base are completed.

    Supporting information for children and young people

    If you are a child or young person, the illustrated guide and animated video will show you what the national framework means for you. If you have any questions or concerns, you can speak to your social worker, personal adviser or family support worker, or another member of social care staff. There are also charities that can provide more information, advice and support. These are listed in the ‘What to do next’ section of the illustrated guide for children and young people.

    Animated video for children and young people

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 December 2023
    Last updated 318 DecemberMarch 20252026 + show all updates

    1. Updated the 'Children’s social care framework statutory guidance', 'Children’s social care framework statutory guidance: Easy Read version', 'Children’s social care national framework: illustrated guide for children and young people', the British Sign Language summary video, and the animated video for children and young people. Added an accessible version of the guide for children and young people.

    2. Added a link to 'Parenting through adversity (children and young people aged 11 to 18)' Foundations practice guide.

    3. Added a link to parenting disabled children and young people practice guide.

    4. Added a link to the 'Mentoring and befriending' Foundations practice guide.

    5. We have updated the page to include a link to the recently published Foundations 'Parenting through adversity (children aged 0–10)' practice guide.

    6. Added an easy read version of the framework, and a link to a summary version in British Sign Language. The British Sign Language version is on YouTube.

    7. Added a link to an animated guide to the framework. The animated guide is on YouTube.

    8. First published.

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