Working Together 2023: Key Changes for Social Workers UK

Overview of Working Together 2023

Working Together to Safeguard Children is the statutory guidance that sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The 2023 edition builds on previous versions while introducing important updates reflecting learning from serious case reviews and changes in practice.

This guide summarises the key changes social workers need to know.

Multi-Agency Safeguarding Arrangements

Working Together 2023 reinforces the importance of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements established by the three safeguarding partners: local authority, police, and health.

Key Points

• Safeguarding partners must publish their arrangements and report annually
• Clear expectations for how partners will work together
• Emphasis on learning from practice and driving improvement
• Inclusion of education as a key partner (though not a statutory safeguarding partner)
• Requirements for independent scrutiny of arrangements

Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews

The guidance clarifies expectations for Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (formerly Serious Case Reviews):

• Rapid reviews should be completed within 15 working days
• Local reviews should be completed within 6 months
• National reviews commissioned for cases of particular complexity or national importance
• Focus on learning and improvement, not blame
• Emphasis on implementing learning from reviews

Information Sharing

Working Together 2023 strengthens guidance on information sharing:

• Clear statement that fear of sharing information should not prevent safeguarding
• Data protection legislation is not a barrier to sharing information for child protection
• Seven golden rules for information sharing
• Emphasis on professional judgment in deciding what to share
• Clear expectations about timely sharing between agencies

The Seven Golden Rules

1. Remember that GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 are not barriers to sharing information
2. Be open and honest with the individual from the outset about why, what, how, and with whom information will be shared
3. Seek advice from other practitioners if in doubt
4. Share with informed consent where appropriate
5. Consider safety and wellbeing when deciding what to share
6. Necessary, proportionate, relevant, accurate, timely, and secure
7. Record decisions and reasons

Contextual Safeguarding

Working Together 2023 gives greater prominence to extra-familial harm:

• Recognition that risks can come from outside the family
• Child exploitation (criminal and sexual) addressed more fully
• Emphasis on understanding the child's wider context
• Importance of working with communities and contexts, not just families

The Voice of the Child

The guidance reinforces the importance of hearing and responding to children:

• Children should be seen alone during assessments
• Communication must be appropriate to the child's age and understanding
• Children's views must inform decision-making
• Advocacy should be available to support children in expressing their views
• Children's experiences, not just risks, should be central to assessment

Assessment Guidance

Key points about assessments:

• Maximum 45 working day timescale for child and family assessments
• Assessments should be proportionate and timely
• The child's needs should determine the depth and timing
• Continuity of relationship with the child is important
• Assessments should be analytical, not just descriptive

Child Protection Processes

The guidance maintains core child protection processes while clarifying expectations:

Strategy Discussions

• Must involve police, health, and children's social care as minimum
• Should happen quickly—same day where possible
• Clear decision-making about Section 47 and immediate safety

Child Protection Conferences

• ICPC within 15 working days of strategy discussion
• First RCPC within 3 months
• Subsequent RCPCs at least every 6 months
• Family participation remains central

Neglect

Working Together 2023 emphasises the importance of responding effectively to neglect:

• Recognition that neglect is often cumulative
• Importance of not normalising concerning care
• Need for robust assessment tools
• Avoiding drift in neglect cases
• Clear timescales and expectations for change

Children Who Are Looked After

Enhanced guidance on looked after children includes:

• Corporate parenting responsibilities
• Importance of stability and permanence
• Educational support and Personal Education Plans
• Health assessments and support
• Preparation for independence

Private Fostering

Working Together continues to require local authorities to:

• Promote awareness of private fostering notification requirements
• Assess all private fostering arrangements
• Visit privately fostered children regularly
• Ensure arrangements are suitable and safe

Allegations Against Professionals

Clear processes for managing allegations against people who work with children:

• Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) role
• Timely initial response
• Coordination of disciplinary and safeguarding processes
• Recording and reporting requirements

What This Means for Practice

For social workers, Working Together 2023 reinforces:

• The central importance of multi-agency working
• The need for timely, thorough assessments
• The child's voice as non-negotiable
• Information sharing as an enabler, not a barrier
• The importance of learning from reviews and applying that learning
• Recognition of contextual and extra-familial risks

Conclusion

Working Together 2023 builds on established frameworks while strengthening key areas including information sharing, contextual safeguarding, and learning from practice. For social workers, the core message remains: effective safeguarding requires good multi-agency working, child-centred practice, and timely, proportionate responses to concerns.

Familiarise yourself with the full guidance and ensure your practice reflects its requirements. The children we work with depend on us getting this right.