Children and families Partnership Conference: Making Families First a reality
Children and families Partnership Conference: Making Families First a reality
Delivered online using Zoom
09:30 - 16:00 Thursday, 26 March 2026
The landscape of child and family services in England is undergoing a period of sustained reform, driven by a commitment to earlier intervention, stronger cross-sector partnerships, and a shared ambition to help children thrive within their families and communities wherever it is safe to do so. Our children and families Partnership Conference will explore how reforms are being embedded locally with a focus on keeping children at the centre of practice.
Underpinning the national reform programme are the Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme Guidance, published by the Department for Education in March 2025 and the statutory changes set out in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, due to pass into law later this year. FFP guidance emphasises joined up working across children’s social care, health, education, early years, and community services to strengthen family networks and provide support at the right time.
The conference will examine how key approaches – such as kinship care, Family Group Decision Making, and the Family Help Lead Practitioner role – are driving system-wide change. We will also explore how children and families’ voices are shaping policy and practice, and how local partnerships are translating national reform into meaningful, practical improvements on the ground.
Zoom delivery platform - Due to the large number of attendees expected, this conference will be delivered via Zoom. We recognise that some organisations have specific policies regarding the use of Zoom, so please ensure you will be able to access Zoom from your location on the day of the conference. If your organisational settings restrict access, you may wish to consider using a personal device or email address.
Learning outcomes
This event will support learners to:
- Share how national reforms in child and family services are being applied locally and in practice.
- Reflect on how meaningful engagement with children and families shapes effective practice and improves outcomes.
- Consider how kinship care, the role of Family Help Lead Practitioner and Family Group Decision Making promote and facilitate whole-family approaches to support.
Speakers
The Partnership Conference is aimed at people working in children and families’ social care from across the Research in Practice Partner network, including Heads of Service, practice leaders, workforce development leaders, principal social workers, practice educators, team managers and practitioners.
Booking
Request your place through the button at the top of this page. We are able to offer up to four places per Research in Practice children and families Partner at this conference. For queries and information, please contact our events team.
Please note adding this event to your calendar does not confirm your place at this event. Details of how to access the event will be sent a week before only to those with a confirmed place.
Audience Types
Practitioners
Principal Social Worker (PSW)
Senior leaders
Senior practitioners
Social workers
Strategic leads
Team leaders
Professional Standards
PQS:KSS - Relationships and effective direct work | Purposeful and effective social work | Designing a system to support effective practice
PCF - Intervention and skills
Family group decision-making and the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill
In this blog Susannah Bowyer explores the inclusion of family group decision-making in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. How can we make the most of the ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ this element of the Bill presents?
Embedding voice in system transformation: Practical approaches for Families First and beyond
Research in Practice have collated practical examples and resources for professionals involved in Families First transformation programmes and beyond. These resources draw on the principles set out in the Framework for ethical and effective information use developed by the Children’s Information Project.
Using family group conferences to enable family led decision making
Join Family Rights Group to explore the principles and current use of Family Group Conferences in the UK.
If the above event (or occurrence of an event) is displaying as 'Event Full' and you would like to be added to a waiting list, please email events@researchinpractice.org.uk detailing the required event title, event time and date.
We will contact you should places become available.