About the project

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has considerably disrupted the lives of children, young people and their families. The response to the pandemic and the imposed social distancing and lockdown measures have presented a myriad of urgent and considerable challenges for child safeguarding and protection practitioners, as well as the agencies that work independently and jointly to ensure child protection in England.

Successful and effective child protection practice is underpinned by engaging in ‘child-focused’ work (eg working directly with children and seeing children ‘face-to-face’) and inter-agency collaboration (eg continuous information sharing on intra- and inter-agency levels to further identify various risks of maltreatment and inform system-wide and joint responses). The social distancing and lockdown measures enacted throughout the pandemic have substantially impacted the integrity of these key elements of practice and the operation of safeguarding arrangements and the protection system at all levels and in all relevant disciplines.

External project team members

There are a range of people and organisations involved with the project.

Expert partners

• Her Honour Judge Carol Atkinson, Designated Family Judge for East London.
• DS Steve Clancey, the Metropolitan Police Continuous Policing Improvement Centre (Safeguarding Strand).
• Annie Hudson, former Strategic Director, Children’s Services, London Borough of Lambeth.
• Professor Jenny Pearce, Professor of Young People and Public Policy at the University of Bedfordshire, The Association of Safeguarding Partners representative.
• Katrina Kiss, Research Assistant.

Partner organisations

• National Police Chief’s Council, Vulnerability, Knowledge and Practice Programme (reporting through the cross-government Child Safeguarding Reform Delivery Board).
• The Children’s Society.
• The Association for Safeguarding Partners (TASP).
• The Association of Child Protection Professionals (AoCPP).

Expert reference group

• Simon Bailey, Chief Constable for Norfolk Police, National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on Child Protection.
• Dr Peter Green, Chair National Network of Designated Health Professionals, Designated Doctor for Child Safeguarding, NHS Wandsworth CCG.
• Sarah Hannafin, Senior Policy Advisor, National Association of Head Teachers.
• Martin Pratt, ADCS Greater London Chair, Deputy Chief Executive & Executive Director Supporting People Camden, Regional representative on ADCS Council of Reference.
• Gwen Kennedy, Director of Nursing Leadership & Quality at NHS England & NHS Improvement.
• Professor Jenny Pearce, Professor of Young People and Public Policy at the University of Bedfordshire and The Association of Safeguarding Partners representative.
• Hannah Perry, Co-Chair of the Association of Lawyers for Children (ALC), Joint Head of Family at TV Edwards Solicitors LLP.