The Durham Family Panel meeting was scheduled to cover a range of important topics concerning children and young people in County Durham. Key discussions were expected to include updates on Ofsted inspections, the progress and achievements of children in care, and the support provided to care leavers, adopted children, and kinship carers. The panel was also set to review the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership's annual report, detailing multi-agency efforts to protect children.

Ofsted Updates

The panel was scheduled to receive a verbal update from the Head of Children's Social Care and the Head of Strategy, Assurance and Specialist Services regarding recent Ofsted inspections.

Proud Moments

Strategic Managers were expected to provide a verbal update on proud moments from across the services, highlighting successes and positive developments.

Update from the Children in Care Council (CICC)

Young people from the Children in Care Council were scheduled to present an update on their recent activities. This update was expected to cover their work and perspectives on matters affecting children in care.

Update from Care Leavers Network Voices

The Voice and Participation Practitioner was scheduled to present an update from the Care Leavers Network Voices. This presentation would likely focus on the experiences and feedback of young people who have left care.

Virtual School Annual Update

The Virtual School Head was scheduled to present the annual update report for the Virtual School. This report would cover the educational progress and support provided to children in care throughout the academic year. The full report, available as the Public reports pack Friday 16-Jan-2026 09.30 Durham Family Panel.pdf, details the Virtual School's work in ensuring children in care achieve their best educational outcomes.

Supporting Care Leavers into Employment, Education and Training

The Strategic Manager for Progression and Learning was scheduled to present an annual update on supporting care leavers into employment, education, and training. This report, also detailed in the Public reports pack Friday 16-Jan-2026 09.30 Durham Family Panel.pdf, would outline the programmes and initiatives in place to help care leavers secure sustained post-16 education, employment, or training.

Bi-Annual Adoption Update

The Head of Children's Social Care was scheduled to present the bi-annual adoption update for Durham County Council (DCC). This report, found within the Public reports pack Friday 16-Jan-2026 09.30 Durham Family Panel.pdf, would cover adoption activity within DCC as a 'spoke' of the Regional Adoption Agency, Adopt Coast to Coast.

Kinship Carers Report

The Head of Children's Social Care was also scheduled to present a report on Kinship Carers. This report, detailed in the Public reports pack Friday 16-Jan-2026 09.30 Durham Family Panel.pdf, would provide an overview of the development of support and services available to kinship families, aiming to strengthen assistance and improve outcomes for children living in kinship care arrangements.

Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership Report

The Statutory Safeguarding Partners were scheduled to present the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report for 2024-2025. This comprehensive report, available in the Public reports pack Friday 16-Jan-2026 09.30 Durham Family Panel.pdf, details the multi-agency safeguarding activities, learning, and improvements within the local safeguarding system. It outlines the partnership's priorities, including domestic abuse, harm outside the home, the first 1001 days of a child's life, and mental health and wellbeing.

Regulation 44 Visits and Regulatory Body Ratings

In Part B of the meeting, which was not open to the public, the Head of Integrated Commissioning Service was scheduled to present a report on Regulation 44 Visits and Regulatory Body Ratings of Independent Children's Residential Homes. This report, found in the Public reports pack Friday 16-Jan-2026 09.30 Durham Family Panel.pdf, would cover information related to the oversight and regulation of these homes.