Children’s social care report calls for ‘dramatic reset’

A ‘dramatic whole system reset’ has been recommended as part of a review into children’s social care in the UK.

The independent report compiled by Josh McAlister, founder of the Frontline charity, has now been submitted to Government for their consideration. The report is critical of the current system, stating it is ‘increasingly skewed to crisis intervention with outcomes for children that continue to be unacceptably poor’.

Instead, it states, the system should provide ‘intensive help’ to families in crisis, act ‘decisively in response to abuse’ and put ‘lifelong loving relationships at the heart of the care system’.

A £2billion investment over the next five years (with a ring-fenced annual grant after that) is recommended in order to introduce a Family Help system (to replace targeted early help and child in need work). This service would comprise of teams including family support workers, domestic abuse workers and mental health practitioners as well as social workers. One of the benefits, according to the review team, would be to reduce the number of referrals to different services.

Other recommendations include:

· The introduction of Expert Child Protection Practitioners to oversee decisions where there’s potential for significant harm to the child.

· Better representation for parents going through the child protection process.

· Bringing wider family members and friends into the decision making before a child is placed in care.

· A statutory financial allowance, legal aid and kinship leave for special guardians and kinship carers with a Child Arrangement Order.

· Regional Care Cooperatives to oversee fostering, residential and secure care arrangements in their area.

· Launching a recruitment programme for foster carers.

· Remove barriers which reduce the time social workers can spend with families.

You can read the executive summary of the report here – and the review website contains more information and the full report, as well as background information used to compile the recommendations.

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Allen Lane Foundation Supports New Workshop Lead Role to Expand Support for Parents

By PEGS Admin • March 18, 2026

We are thrilled to announce that the Allen Lane Foundation has generously funded a new Workshop Lead role to coordinate and deliver online workshops for parents and carers affected by Child-to-Parent Abuse (CPA) over the next 12 months. Parents and carers affected by CPA are often isolated, unsupported, and unsure where to turn. Our 2024 survey shows that 96% of parents feel isolated, 94% stressed, 92% scared, and 100% report an impact on emotional wellbeing. Over 70% have had to reduce or leave work. With demand for support rising to over 450 referrals per month and a 116% increase in November 2025 there is an urgent need for structured, accessible help. Expanding Online Workshops and 1:1 Support The new Workshop Lead will deliver a weekly online workshop for up to 15 participants, covering practical and emotional wellbeing topics such as stress management, goal-setting, and specialist techniques like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Alongside the weekly sessions, the project will also run: Bi-monthly two-part specialist workshops Monthly wellbeing workshops By taking the lead on workshop delivery, the Workshop Lead will free up our practitioner team to provide more personalised one-to-one support to high-risk parents, reaching an additional estimated 50 parents in need. Over 12 months, we anticipate that over 200 parents will benefit directly from group workshops, gaining tools to manage risk, improve emotional wellbeing, reduce stress, and build confidence. The workshops will also create a safe space for peer connection, helping to reduce isolation and foster resilience. Measuring Impact We will track success through attendance figures, participant feedback, and pre- and post-workshop surveys to capture changes in confidence, coping strategies, and wellbeing. Practitioners will also monitor the effect of increased one-to-one support to ensure parents feel safer, supported, and better able to manage their situation. Michelle John, our founding director, says: "Allen Lane Foundation’s continued support enables us to reach more parents and provide the practical guidance and personal support they urgently need. This Workshop Lead role will make a real difference, helping parents feel safer, more confident, and connected, while allowing our practitioners to provide targeted one-to-one support where it’s needed most." We are incredibly grateful to the Allen Lane Foundation for their ongoing belief in our work. This funding allows us to expand our online support, reach more parents, and provide both group and personalised assistance for those affected by CPA.