Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) have today, 4 September 2026, published guidance for a new series of thematic inspections. These inspections will focus on younger children living with neglect, forming part of their joint targeted area inspections (JTAIs) programme.
Starting in autumn 2026, inspectors will examine how children’s social care, police, probation services, and relevant health services in local areas collaborate. The focus will be on their responses to children at risk of, or experiencing, neglect, from identification through to assessment, planning, decision-making, protection, support, and prevention.
The inspections will specifically target unborn children and those aged 0 to 11. Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s National Director, Social Care, stated that previous work showed neglect can go unseen and that there is particular concern from families, professionals, and the public about its impact on the youngest children.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Kathryn Stone OBE, highlighted that protecting vulnerable children experiencing neglect requires effective and consistent multi-agency collaboration. Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, added that probation services play an important role in assessing risks posed by adults and sharing information to safeguard children.