The Durham Family Panel meeting on Friday 16 January 2026 was scheduled to cover a wide range of updates and reports concerning children's services and safeguarding in County Durham. Key discussions were expected to include Ofsted updates, reports from the Children in Care Council and Care Leavers Network Voices, and annual updates from the Virtual School and the Supporting Care Leavers into Employment, Education and Training initiative. The panel was also set to receive bi-annual updates on adoption and kinship care, as well as the annual report from the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership.

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 Ofsted's findings and activities.

Proud Moments

Strategic Managers were expected to provide a verbal update on proud moments from across the services.

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 presentation was to be based on the document Item 7 - CICC - Presentation.pdf.

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 was to be based on the document Item 8 - CL Network Voices - Presentation.pdf.

Virtual School Annual Update

An annual update report and presentation from the Virtual School Head was scheduled. This report, titled Virtual School Annual Report 2024-2025 , was to cover children and young people of statutory school age. The report was available as Item 9 - VS Annual Report - Report.pdf, with a presentation available as Item 9 - VS Annual Report - Presentation.pdf, and Appendix 2 as Item 9 - VS Annual Report - Appendix 2.pdf.

Supporting Care Leavers into Employment, Education and Training

An annual update report and presentation from the Strategic Manager for Progression and Learning was scheduled, focusing on supporting care leavers into employment, education, and training. This report was titled Supporting Care Leavers into Education, Employment or Training and was available as a report and presentation.

Bi-Annual Adoption Update (DCC)

The Head of Children's Social Care was scheduled to present a bi-annual update on adoption services within Durham County Council (DCC). This report, titled Durham County Council Adoption Team Bi-Annual report , covered the period from 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2025 and detailed the team's staffing, recruitment efforts, panel activities, the child's journey through the adoption process, post-adoption support services, and updated priority areas for 2025/26.

Kinship Carers Report

The Head of Children's Social Care was also scheduled to present a report on kinship carers. This six-monthly report, titled Durham County Council Kinship Care & Support Team Six Monthly Report , covered the period from 1 April 2025 to 31 October 2025. It provided an overview of the development of support and services for kinship families, highlighting current provisions and key areas of support aimed at strengthening assistance and improving outcomes for children in kinship care arrangements.

Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership Report

Statutory Safeguarding Partners were scheduled to present the Durham Safeguarding Children Partnership Annual Report for 2024-2025. This report detailed the partnership's activities, learning, and improvements in the local safeguarding system, covering multi-agency priorities and outlining the strategic business plan for 2025-2027. The report included information on priority areas such as Harm Outside the Home, Safeguarding Through Early Identification and Intervention, Trauma Informed Practice, and the Working Together & Towards Reform Action Plan.

Regulation 44 Visits and Regulatory Body Ratings of Independent Children's Residential Homes

Part B of the meeting, which was not open to the public, was scheduled to include a report from the Head of Integrated Commissioning Service concerning Regulation 44 visits and the regulatory body ratings of independent children's residential homes.