The government has published new plans for children's social care reform.

The Implementation Plan for Children’s Social Care sets out how the government will deliver the biggest overhaul of children’s social care and child protection policy in a generation.

The plan follows the passage of the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act 2026.

The Act contains a wide range of ambitious reforms to keep children safe and overhaul the care market and the Plan puts those reforms into action.

Under the plans every local authority will deliver a single Family Help service, offering the support and interventions needed to keep families together where possible and new multi-agency child protection teams will bring together social workers, police, health and education professionals to strengthen safeguarding for vulnerable children.

Support for kinship carers will be strengthened, with every council required to publish a local kinship offer backed by national standards so that more children can be cared for by grandparents, aunts and uncles rather than going into care.

There are plans to increase foster care capacity and expand Regional Care Cooperatives to help get more children in care into supportive foster homes with the support networks they need.

Care leavers will receive strengthened support through a national Staying Close offer from 2029, meaning they get help with essential things like accommodation, employment and healthcare up to the age of 25.

The reforms are back by investment, including £2.4 billion for the Families First Partnership Programme, £245 million to deliver legislative commitments and improve the care market, and £560 million in capital funding to expand and refurbish children’s homes.

Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister said: "Bringing in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act was a major early priority for this government and it marks a historic moment for children’s social care and child protection in England.

"The Plan we’re publishing today sets out how we will now deliver that change — intervening earlier to support families, strengthening protection for vulnerable children, and ensuring more children can grow up in stable, loving homes.

"Through these reforms we are delivering what vulnerable children need, in partnership with committed frontline professionals, putting children’s safety and wellbeing and giving more young people the best possible start in life."