This report produced by NFER on behalf of the LGA explores the impact of the safeguarding children peer review programme.
The initiative was established in 2010, with the aim of supporting and challenging councils in reflecting on current provision of safe services in respect of safeguarding children and young people.
Safeguarding children peer reviews have an impact in three ways: on councils' insights into their areas of strength and weakness; on actions to develop services or working practices; and in changes or improvements to safeguarding practices. NFER conducted interviews with key stakeholders including strategic and frontline officers, lead members and key partners, at three discrete time points. The final qualitative report explores perspectives on impacts; factors influencing impact; and how reviews compare to other forms of scrutiny.