Update on Hertfordshire’s Families First Partnership Programme
An update on the development of Hertfordshire’s Family Help service
The plan and structure for integrated Family Help teams, bringing targeted early help and statutory social care together in Hertfordshire, has been developed through extensive co-design with the council’s workforce, and with children, young people and families. This has included detail around role clarity, practice foundations and team structures.
The model is currently going through the council’s governance structure and is anticipated to be in delivery by the end of 2026, supported by a comprehensive mobilisation and transition plan.
Wider programme development
Whilst we’re at the cusp of change delivering Family Help in Hertfordshire, work is continuing apace on developing the other elements of the Families First Partnership. We are fortunate in Hertfordshire be building on strong, well established multi-agency child protection practice. We are building on the principles of the Hertfordshire Family Safeguarding Model to create a single, unifying practice approach.
Work is continuing across our safeguarding partnership to scope out roles needed in the new Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT), ensuring alignment with the recently revised guidance from the Government. Our subject matter experts are playing a key part in scoping out roles, advising on how to embed best practice, and ensuring that the model aligns operationally for all lead organisations.
National programme updates
The Department for Education recently released updated guidance on the national Families First Partnership programme. The 2026-27 guidance marks a formal transition from design and pathfinder learning into full delivery across all safeguarding partnerships, with mandatory systemwide implementation expected by March 2027.
The new guidance sets out expectations for Family Help, Multi-Agency Child Protection and Family Networks. It also includes accountability mechanisms, detailed workforce expectations (especially around multi-agency and new roles), stronger statutory alignment and increased emphasis on Safeguarding Partnership accountability. We’ve produced a summary of the key elements that have been updated which we have been sharing with partners.
The Government has also recently updated two pieces of statutory guidance for Children’s Social Care and partners working to safeguard children. It has just published the Children’s Social Care National Framework (2026) and it has made a targeted update to: Working Together to Safeguard Children, reflecting its ongoing commitment to strengthening multi-agency help, support and protection.
Sharing updates
As we move into the implementation phase of these national reforms, the Families First Partnership Programme team are looking for opportunities to share updates with partners about the changes being implemented.
If your organisation has a regular newsletter, or run network events, where it would be good to share FFPP updates please contact our communications lead (contact details below) who will provide any resources you need or arrange a speaker.
Our subject matter experts are also a great source of information about the programme and will continue to cascade news and updates with colleagues in partner organisations.
Contact details for SMEs:
Communications lead: Rebecca.cussens@hertfordshire.gov.uk
You can download a copy of the updated guidance from the DfE for the Families First Partnership Programme.
