Joint targeted child protection inspections

In 2016, a programme of joint targeted area child protection inspections in England was launched. These short, focused inspections were carried out on a multi-agency basis, led by Ofsted and also involving HMICFRS, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and HMI Probation.

In November 2021, with Ofsted and the CQC, we piloted a new joint inspection programme to examine how English local authorities, police and health services work together to help and protect children.

The new programme assesses:

• the response, at the point of identification, to child abuse, neglect and exploitation;
• the quality of assessment, planning and decision-making in response to notifications and referrals; and
• the leadership, management, and effectiveness of local safeguarding arrangements in relation to this work.

We have planned further pilots in 2022 and will continue to work with other criminal justice inspectorates on the evaluation and development of this approach.

Background to this inspection programme

Multi-agency child protection pilot inspections

Following recommendations made in 2011’s Munro Review of Child Protection, HMICFRS was involved in developing and piloting multi-agency child protection inspections between 2011 and 2013. These inspections highlighted many areas of effective practice, but also identified a number of areas where improvement was needed. These included:

• the quality of joint investigations;
• the identification of risk;
• dealing with domestic abuse; and
• the detention of children in custody.

Integrated child protection pilot inspections

Drawing on the results of these pilots, inspectorates worked together to develop an approach that would drive sustained improvements in the protection of children. This resulted in proposals for ‘integrated’ child protection inspections where inspectorates separately assessed the contribution of local agencies delivering child protection within the same local authority area at the same time. Pilot integrated inspections took place in late 2014.

Joint targeted child protection inspections

Responses to these proposals, and the pilots, confirmed the benefits of working together. Inspectorates agreed that greater impact could be achieved by carrying out short, targeted joint inspections looking specifically at how well agencies work together to protect children in an area.

Get the inspection framework

An inspection framework for joint targeted child protection inspections was published in January 2016 following further consultation and a pilot inspection. This framework sets out the approach for the inspections. It was last updated on 17 July 2019.

Inspection framework – Joint Targeted Area Inspections

Joint targeted area inspections include a ‘deep dive’ investigation – an evaluation of children and young people’s experiences. This changes periodically to investigate different themes in detail.

Inspection themes

Children at risk of child sexual exploitation theme

The first theme examined was children at risk of sexual exploitation and those missing from home, school or care. This was examined in five inspections and the findings drawn together in the report Time to listen’- A Joined Up Approach to Child Sexual Exploitation and Missing Children.

Framework: Joint inspections of child sexual exploitation and missing children: February to August 2016

Children living with domestic abuse theme

The theme for September 2016 to March 2017 was the response to children living with domestic abuse. This was examined for six inspections and the findings drawn together in the report The multi-agency response to children living with domestic abuse.

Framework: Joint inspections of the response to children living with domestic abuse: September 2016 to March 2017

Children experiencing neglect theme

The theme for May to December 2017 was how local partner agencies – including local authorities, health and probation services and the police – are working together to protect children living with, or at risk of, neglect. This was examined for six inspections and the findings drawn together in the report Growing up neglected: a multi-agency response to older children.

Framework: Joint inspections of the response to children experiencing neglect: May to December 2017

Children at risk from criminal exploitation theme

The theme for February to May 2018 was the multi-agency response to preventing and responding to child exploitation, including criminal exploitation. This was examined for three inspections and the findings drawn together in the report Protecting children from criminal exploitation, human trafficking and modern slavery which is an addendum to the 2016 report – ‘Time to Listen’.

Framework: Joint inspections of child sexual exploitation, children associated with gangs and at risk of exploitation and children missing from home, care or education.

Child sexual abuse in the family environment

The theme for September 2018 to January 2019 was the response to children at risk of, or subject to, sexual abuse in the family environment. This was examined for six inspections and the findings drawn together in the report The multi-agency response to child sexual abuse in the family environment in February 2020.

Framework: Joint inspections of the response to child sexual abuse in the family environment.

Children’s mental health theme

The theme for September 2019 to February 2020 was the response to evaluate children and young people’s experiences living with mental ill health, with a focus on those aged 10 to 15 years old. his was examined for six inspections and the findings drawn together in the report ‘Feeling heard’: partner agencies working together to make a difference for children with mental ill health

Framework: Joint targeted area inspections on the theme of children’s mental health.

Inspection reports

For further information about the programme, please see the Ofsted website

Please note: In July 2017 HMIC took on responsibility for fire & rescue service inspections and was renamed HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS). Inspections carried out before July 2017 may continue to refer to HMIC.