Blog
Our recent Leading Effective Multi-Agency Partnerships for Supporting Children at Risk of Violence conference, which we delivered in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau, was aimed at senior leaders in the children’s services sector across England and Wales. Chaired by our Executive Director – Jon Yates, and supported by Dez Holmes, Director of Research in Practice and Strategic Director at the National Children’s Bureau, we heard from a wide range of impactful senior leaders in the sector.
Highlights for me included:
- Listening to Wendy Ghaffar, Specialist Advisor Cross Remit, Ofsted, Jenny Coles, from the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel, and Jimmy Belmar, Serious and Organised Crime (SOC) Tactical Advisor and Community Co-ordinator in Merseyside – talking about what good multi-agency partnership work looks like
- Hearing from Professor Carlene Firmin from Durham University about the need for new approaches for work with children at risk of extra familial harm, including working with parents as partners and supporting children at risk of violence outside the home through a child in need/child safeguarding lens.
- A sofa conversation with Antonia Ogundayisi, Anti-Racist Practice Service Manager at Essex County Council, and YEF Race Equity Advisor, and Debbie Ariyo, Founder and CEO of AFRUCA on race equity and the need for systemic change in supporting children from diverse backgrounds which was incredibly thought provoking.
- A facilitated discussion with Hannah Woodhouse and Florence Kroll – Directors of Children’s Services in Bristol and Greenwich respectively about reflective relational leadership under pressure.
As well as:
- Brilliant workshops led by Richard Bottomley – Head Teacher at Bradford AP Academy about their Alternative Provision Specialist Taskforce, and the tangible positive difference it has made to children permanently excluded from school; from Steve Harrison from Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Unit about their really impressive Focused Deterrence programme; and from Dez Holmes, Research in Practice on the Multi-agency Practice Principles for responding to child exploitation and extra-familial harm – developed by the Tackling Child Exploitation Support Programme on behalf of the Department for Education.
It was a fantastic opportunity for leaders across children’s social care to get together to learn and share ideas, to be inspired, challenged, and motivated in their work with children at risk of involvement in violence. Here are some quotes from the day:
A great opportunity to have space to reflect and learn from others working in a space that we are all so passionate about.
This conference has left me full of ideas, thoughts and reflections to take away so very successful, thank you!
You can find out more about the event and review, where you can find a summary of the event and keynote presenter slides here. If you work in the children’s services sector, and want to know more about our work or get involved, sign up to our newsletter.
In 2026, we will be publishing both practice and systems guidance for the children’s services sector, and will be engaging with the sector in advance of these publications.
