Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many meetings of the Children’s Social Care National Implementation Board have taken place; and what role, if any, the Board has played in formulating His Majesty's Government's response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care.

Members of the National Implementation Board met for the first time in July 2022, for an ‘interim’ meeting. At this stage the department were yet to appoint members with lived experience of the children’s social care system. Following their appointment, in October 2022 the full board met with officials in the department for an informal update on progress. The first, full board meeting took place in November, chaired by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing and with all members present. The most recent meeting was held on 13 December 2022.

The role of the board is to support, advise, and hold to account the government on its implementation of reforms to the children’s social care system. The board has reviewed and provided feedback on our strategic objectives, advising on how best to create the conditions for successful reform. They have also advised and challenged the department on our delivery plans, to help ensure we are taking the right actions to secure the outcomes we want to see for children and families in the short, medium, and long term.