Research and analysis
Understanding independent scrutiny in safeguarding partnerships
Research into how independent scrutiny operates within safeguarding partnerships, including its role, impact and the factors that support effective scrutiny.
Applies to England
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This report examines how independent scrutiny is being implemented across safeguarding partnerships in England and how it contributes to learning, accountability and system improvement.
The research draws on a national survey of safeguarding partnerships and interviews with independent scrutineers, safeguarding partners and other stakeholders.
The report covers various aspects of independent scrutiny, including:
- how safeguarding partnerships commission, resource and organise arrangements
- the priorities, methods and sources of evidence used by independent scrutineers
- the conditions that enable or constrain effective scrutiny, including leadership, culture, governance and system capacity
- its contribution to learning, accountability, improvement and partnership effectiveness
- how partnerships monitor its effectiveness and impact
- how children and young people’s voices are incorporated
- the support needs and opportunities to strengthen independent scrutiny in future
Updates to this page
Published 24 September 2026