Source: Department of Health and Social Care published on this website Wednesday 16 September 2026 by Jill Powell

The Health and Social Care Secretary has set out immediate actions to strengthen patient safety, safeguarding and accountability across the NHS, following the publication of Lady Justice Thirlwall’s final report into the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The Thirlwall Inquiry found serious failures of governance, leadership and safeguarding, with opportunities missed to act on concerns and protect babies from harm.

Responding to the findings in Parliament, the Health and Social Care Secretary said safeguarding must be at the heart of the NHS and that the government would act on the inquiry’s recommendations to help prevent such failures happening again.

Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

“The suffering endured by these babies and their families is impossible to comprehend. 

“On behalf of the government and the health service, I am profoundly sorry for the failures set out so clearly in this report. 

“For the harm, distress and unthinkable loss for their families. For the failures by the NHS to keep babies safe.”

The government has begun work on a series of measures while it considers the inquiry’s recommendations in full, including:

• urgent work to develop plans for CCTV, including ‘cot cams’, in neonatal settings to improve safety and provide reassurance to parents
• new guidance on the safe use and storage of insulin and strengthened guidance for medical examiners reviewing neonatal deaths
• plans to regulate NHS managers through a barring scheme for senior leaders who fail in their responsibilities
• continued rollout of the National Bereavement Care Pathway for families experiencing neonatal loss, with all NHS trusts now signed up to implement it
• creation of a single tracker to monitor delivery of recommendations from major maternity and neonatal reviews and inquiries, helping ensure reforms are implemented and progress is transparent

In Parliament, the Health and Social Care Secretary said:

“The safety and care for babies, the safeguarding of every patient, the respect for families - all these go right to the heart of our NHS values.  

“The inquiry recognises that in many areas things have changed since these terrible events took place, including welcome improvements at the Countess in services for women and children.  

“However, the inquiry is clear that new action is needed. 

“I take these recommendations extremely seriously and the government will of course consider the entire report and set out a full response.

Source: Department for Education published on this website Monday 14 September 2026 by Jill Powell

Statutory information sharing duty guidance 2026 for practitioners and organisations providing safeguarding and welfare services for children and young people.

Summary of Guidance

The Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026 introduced an information sharing duty to provide clarity for practitioners on what and when they should share information for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Local safeguarding arrangements, practices and procedures, alongside pre-existing statutory responsibilities, then determine how this information should be shared, and with whom. As with all processing of personal data, data protection law determines how to do so appropriately. This guidance explains what organisations and practitioners must do to comply with the information sharing duty under section 16LA (s16LA) of the Children Act 2004, and what they should do to ensure consistent and effective information sharing to safeguard children and promote their welfare. Organisations to whom the information sharing duty applies must have regard to this guidance in accordance with s16LA(6) of the Children Act 20041. This document should be complied with, unless exceptional circumstances arise. Regulators and inspectorates may consider compliance when assessing effectiveness. Legislation this publication refers to This guidance refers to section 16LA of the Children Act 2004 (s16LA), as amended by the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act.

This guidance applies to organisations in England, within s16LA(4), including:

• Section 11(1) Children Act 2004 organisations (e.g. local authorities, Integrated Care Boards, NHS Trusts, the police, prison and probation services, youth justice services, and youth custody services)2. • Designated childcare or education agencies for the purposes of section 16E3.
• Providers delivering services pursuant to arrangements made by the above for functions relating to safeguarding and promoting welfare. This includes GPs, dentists, and other primary care providers.
• Organisations and practitioners to whom the information sharing duty does not apply may find this guidance helpful for best practice, and for understanding how the statutory safeguarding framework, which they contribute information to, operates.

Source: Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) published on this website 14 September 2026 by JIll Powell

OSCR has published its inquiry report into Harvest Ministries Limited (SC004545), which examined the charity's handling of safeguarding concerns and the oversight exercised by its trustees.

The report highlights the importance of robust safeguarding procedures, clear decision-making, effective record keeping and the appropriate management of conflicts of interest.

Read the inquiry report here: Inquiry Report: Harvest Ministries Limited (SC004545).

Sources: Sussex Police published on this web page Friday 11 September 2026

Former primary school teacher Joseph Haffenden has been jailed for sexually assaulting two children.

Haffenden, 32, pleaded guilty in Jly to six counts of sexual assault by touching and six counts of false imprisonment.

It followed a report on 12 February relating to two nine-year-old boys who had been sexually assaulted between January and February this year.

Both boys provided similar accounts of a what Haffenden labelled a ‘game’ whereby the victims were tickled under their clothing with his hands, a feather, and an electric toothbrush.

The offences were disclosed to adults who reported it to Sussex Police.

Haffenden, of High Street in Lindfield, was arrested and the victims and their families were supported by specialist officers.

Officers searched Haffenden’s property and found a number of items suggesting an interest in children and evidence which supported the victims’ accounts.

Haffenden was suspended from a teaching role and has subsequently been dismissed.

At Lewes Crown Court on Monday 20 July, Haffenden admitted the charges.

On Thursday (3 September), Haffenden was jailed for 51 months.

Detective Sergeant Ellen Jones said: “Haffenden’s disturbing crimes suggest a clear sexual interest in children that jar alarmingly with his position as a teacher.

“Thanks to the bravery of his victims for reporting his offending, we have been able to bring him to justice and ensure he can pose no further risk to children.

“I would urge any other victims of sexual offending, no matter how long ago, to report online or phone 101, so we can investigate, support you and seek the justice you deserve.”