Following a formal consultation of Working together to safeguard children and managing individual cases: the framework for the assessment of children in need and their families, statutory guidance Working together to safeguard children came into force on 15 April 2013. This guidance sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and how practitioners should conduct the assessment of children.
Ministers have agreed to trial authorities testing assessment flexibilities for an additional 12 months from 15 April when the statutory guidance came into force. This will enable further evidence to be gathered to inform future assessment policy and practice.
The letters in the associated resources section show which temporary suspension from statutory guidance each of the local authorities has been granted and the monitoring arrangements in place. Two of the trial authorities, Cumbria and Islington, have chosen not to continue to test assessment flexibilities.
