Safeguarding Matters: 12 Key Updates Shaping Practice in October 2026
October 2026 | RLB Safeguarding Ltd
Safeguarding continues to evolve, with new research, guidance, resources and legal developments highlighting the importance of prevention, professional curiosity, effective governance and listening to those affected by harm.
In this latest roundup, we explore eight important developments spanning children's safeguarding, online exploitation, education, adult safeguarding and institutional accountability.
While these updates cover different sectors, they share an important message: effective safeguarding requires organisations to look beyond policies and procedures and understand the experiences, risks and barriers affecting the people they support.
1. Challenging Justice Inequalities: Listening to Young People's Experiences
The Challenging Justice Inequalities project has published a collection of outputs exploring young people's experiences and inequalities within justice-related systems.
The resources include a detailed project report, summary findings, a policy briefing and a comic designed for children and young people.
Importantly, the project also provides opportunities to consider how research can be communicated in accessible, engaging ways and how young people's experiences can inform recommendations for change.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Children and young people do not experience services, systems or opportunities equally.
Discrimination, structural inequalities and disadvantage can influence their experiences of support, their trust in professionals and their ability to access protection.
For safeguarding professionals, this reinforces the importance of:
Listening to children's lived experiences.
Recognising inequalities and barriers to accessing services.
Challenging assumptions about behaviour, risk and vulnerability.
Embedding children's voices within service improvement.
Ensuring safeguarding arrangements are inclusive and responsive.
RLB reflection: Are we genuinely listening to children and young people whose experiences challenge our assumptions, or are we relying on what professionals believe they need?
Read the Challenging Justice Inequalities project outputs
2. CEOP Publishes Guidance on Online Harm Groups
CEOP Education has published professional guidance on online harm groups, sometimes referred to as Com groups.
These networks can use grooming, coercion, manipulation and blackmail to exploit and harm children and young people.
The guidance supports professionals to understand the nature of these groups, recognise potential indicators of exploitation, respond to concerns and strengthen preventative education.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Online harm is not always immediately visible to parents, carers, teachers or safeguarding professionals.
Children may experience threats, manipulation or coercion through online interactions without initially recognising that they are being exploited.
Fear, shame and threats can also make disclosure particularly difficult.
Professionals should consider:
Whether online harm groups are reflected within safeguarding training and risk assessments.
How staff recognise signs of online grooming, coercion and exploitation.
Whether children know how to report online concerns safely.
How organisations respond without blaming or criminalising children experiencing exploitation.
Whether online safeguarding policies reflect emerging patterns of harm.
RLB reflection: Online safeguarding must go beyond advice about privacy settings and screen time. Professionals need to understand the behaviours, tactics and exploitation that can occur within digital environments.
Read CEOP's guidance on online harm groups
3. Anti-Bullying Week 2026: Free Resources Now Available
The Anti-Bullying Alliance has released free resources ahead of Anti-Bullying Week 2026, taking place from 16–20 November.
This year's theme is “Break the Silence”, encouraging conversations about bullying and the importance of speaking up, listening and taking action.
Resources are available to support schools, education settings, children, young people and families.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Bullying should never be dismissed as an inevitable part of growing up.
Its impact can extend beyond the immediate incident, affecting emotional wellbeing, relationships, attendance, confidence and a child's sense of safety.
Bullying may also involve discrimination, sexual harassment, online abuse and harmful behaviour between children.
Organisations should consider:
Whether children feel confident reporting bullying.
How concerns are recorded, monitored and followed up.
Whether staff recognise identity-based and discriminatory bullying.
How children experiencing bullying are supported.
Whether organisational culture challenges harmful behaviour rather than normalising it.
RLB reflection: Having an anti-bullying policy is not the same as creating an environment where children feel safe enough to speak up.
Access the free Anti-Bullying Week 2026 resources
4. New Impetus Research Highlights Challenges Around School Attendance
New research published by Impetus explores teachers' perspectives on school attendance and the challenges associated with supporting pupils who are persistently absent.
The research raises important questions about whether existing systems provide schools and professionals with the support needed to address attendance difficulties effectively.
Why this matters for safeguarding
School absence is not automatically a safeguarding concern, but persistent or unexplained absence can sometimes indicate wider difficulties affecting a child or family.
These might include anxiety, bullying, unmet special educational needs, family pressures, exploitation or difficulties accessing appropriate support.
Attendance should therefore be understood in context, rather than considered solely as a compliance or performance issue.
Professionals should consider:
Whether attendance concerns prompt meaningful conversations with children and families.
How patterns of absence are considered alongside other safeguarding information.
Whether staff understand barriers affecting particular groups of children.
How education, early help and safeguarding services work together.
Whether interventions address underlying needs rather than simply focusing on attendance figures.
RLB reflection: Behind every attendance statistic is a child with an individual story. Are we asking enough questions about what is making attendance difficult?
Read the Impetus attendance research
5. Estyn Examines Education Welfare Services and Persistent Absenteeism in Wales
Estyn has published a review examining the effectiveness of Education Welfare Services in supporting schools, parents and carers to tackle persistent absenteeism.
The review provides an opportunity to consider how education welfare arrangements support engagement with education and how services respond when attendance becomes a concern.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Education Welfare Services have an important role in helping schools understand and respond to attendance difficulties.
Effective responses require more than identifying that a child is absent. They require professionals to consider the circumstances surrounding that absence and whether additional support or safeguarding intervention may be necessary.
Key considerations include:
Effective information sharing between schools and partner agencies.
Timely identification of children requiring additional support.
Understanding the impact of poverty, inequality and unmet needs.
Meaningful engagement with children, parents and carers.
Clear escalation pathways where concerns indicate potential harm.
RLB reflection: Attendance, welfare and safeguarding should not operate in isolation. A coordinated approach is essential to understanding children's circumstances and responding proportionately.
Read Estyn's review of Education Welfare Services
6. IAmReady: Supporting Survivors of Non-Recent Child Sexual Abuse
The IAmReady website provides information and support for victims and survivors of non-recent child sexual abuse and exploitation.
It is designed to help eligible survivors understand how to request a review of their case where the police or Crown Prosecution Service previously decided to take no further action.
The website also recognises that seeking support and pursuing justice can be difficult, and that different survivors will have different needs and expectations.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Safeguarding responsibilities do not end when somebody reaches adulthood, and the impact of childhood abuse can continue throughout a person's life.
For some survivors, seeking help or revisiting previous decisions may involve significant emotional and practical challenges.
This reinforces the importance of:
Trauma-informed approaches to responding to disclosures.
Respecting survivors' choices and autonomy.
Providing clear information about support and reporting options.
Avoiding assumptions about when somebody should disclose abuse.
Recognising that institutional responses can affect survivors' trust and willingness to seek help.
RLB reflection: Safeguarding is not only about preventing future harm. It is also about how organisations respond to people who have already experienced abuse, including when concerns relate to events many years ago.
7. Corporate Manslaughter Charges Following Deaths of Care Home Residents
The Crown Prosecution Service announced on 6 October 2026 that Burdon Grange Care Home Limited and South West Lakes Trust have been charged following the deaths of two wheelchair-user residents, Alison Tilsley and Alex Wood.
The deaths followed a boat capsizing at Roadford Lake Reservoir in Devon on 8 June 2022.
Both organisations face two counts of corporate manslaughter and charges relating to health and safety duties.
These are charges, not findings of guilt. Criminal proceedings are ongoing, and both organisations are entitled to a fair trial.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Without commenting on the merits of the ongoing case, the announcement provides an important opportunity for organisations to reflect on the relationship between safeguarding, health and safety, governance and organisational accountability.
When services support adults who may require additional assistance, activities and arrangements must be planned with appropriate consideration of individual needs and foreseeable risks.
Organisations should consider:
Whether risk assessments are individualised and proportionate.
How responsibilities are allocated when external organisations deliver activities.
Whether reasonable adjustments and accessibility needs are properly considered.
How staff escalate concerns about unsafe arrangements.
Whether senior leaders receive meaningful assurance about operational risks.
RLB reflection: Safeguarding and health and safety are distinct but interconnected responsibilities. Effective governance requires organisations to understand how these responsibilities operate together in practice.
Read the Crown Prosecution Service announcement
8. Church of England Responds Following Chris Brain Retrial
The Church of England has issued a statement following the retrial of Chris Brain, founder of the Nine O'Clock Service in Sheffield.
On 2 October 2026, Brain was found guilty on all five remaining charges, including rape and four counts of indecent assault.
This followed his conviction in August 2025 on 17 counts of indecent assault against nine women.
The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, reiterated his apology for the abuse of power and leadership associated with the Nine O'Clock Service.
The Church also confirmed that an independent Safeguarding Practice Review, previously delayed while criminal proceedings continued, would now begin.
Why this matters for safeguarding
This case raises significant questions about power, authority, organisational culture and the circumstances in which abuse can occur within trusted institutions.
Safeguarding failures are not always the result of missing policies. They can also arise where leadership is insufficiently challenged, concerns are minimised or individuals feel unable to speak out.
Important organisational considerations include:
How power and authority are exercised and challenged.
Whether people can raise concerns about influential individuals.
The effectiveness and independence of safeguarding oversight.
How allegations involving leaders are handled.
Whether victims and survivors are listened to and supported.
How organisations demonstrate learning and accountability.
How organisations demonstrate learning and accountability.
RLB reflection: Safeguarding cultures must be strong enough to challenge those with the greatest influence, not simply those with the least power.
Read the Church of England statement
9. Charity Commission Updates Safeguarding Guidance for Trustees
Updated: 8 October 2026 | England and Wales
The Charity Commission has updated its guidance, Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees, incorporating important changes to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) arrangements and expectations around online safeguarding.
The updated guidance reflects two significant DBS developments:
Self-employed individuals: Since 21 January 2026, eligible self-employed individuals, including nannies, tutors and sports coaches, have been able to apply for enhanced DBS checks through a DBS Umbrella Body.
Supervision exemption: From 1 September 2026, the supervision exemption for regulated activity with children was removed, meaning some previously exempt supervised roles may now require different checking arrangements.
The guidance also highlights the potential application of the Online Safety Act 2023 to charities providing certain online services, including forums and messaging facilities.
These legislative and regulatory developments are not all new. What is significant is their inclusion within the Charity Commission's safeguarding guidance and the expectations placed on trustees to respond appropriately.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Trustees have an important responsibility to ensure safeguarding arrangements remain legally compliant, proportionate and effective.
Safeguarding governance should extend beyond approving policies. Trustees need to understand the risks associated with their charity's activities and receive meaningful assurance that appropriate controls are operating in practice.
Organisations should consider:
Whether safer recruitment procedures and DBS eligibility assessments reflect the 2026 changes.
Whether online activities introduce additional safeguarding or regulatory responsibilities.
How safeguarding risks are identified, recorded and reported to trustees.
Whether safeguarding policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and implemented.
How trustees evaluate the effectiveness and impact of safeguarding arrangements.
Not every charity using social media automatically falls within the Online Safety Act's regulated-service requirements. Applicability depends on the nature of the services provided.
RLB reflection: Safeguarding is a governance responsibility, not simply an operational function delegated to a safeguarding lead. Trustees must be able to demonstrate how they know their organisation's safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Read the updated Charity Commission safeguarding guidance
10. Welsh Government Announces Major Safeguarding Reform Programme
Published: 6 October 2026 | Wales
The Welsh Government has announced Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales, a significant whole-system reform programme covering children, young people and adults at risk.
The programme responds to the Strengthening Safeguarding Governance Review led by Jan Pickles OBE and aims to improve safeguarding leadership, accountability, national oversight and the use of intelligence.
Key developments include:
Establishing a Ministerial Safeguarding Oversight and Assurance Board.
Creating a dedicated safeguarding function within a National Social Care Intelligence Hub.
Developing a National Safeguarding Plan and National Safeguarding Risk Register.
Strengthening the use of evidence, intelligence and learning to identify emerging risks.
Further examining safeguarding arrangements across education, sport and faith settings.
The programme also establishes the foundations for future consultation on an Adult and Child Protection Authority for Wales and mandatory reporting of abuse and neglect.
These remain future proposals and are not requirements currently in force.
Why this matters for safeguarding
This announcement represents an important shift towards more coordinated, intelligence-led safeguarding arrangements and clearer accountability.
The emphasis on independent oversight, national learning and measurable improvement is particularly relevant to organisations reviewing their safeguarding governance and assurance frameworks.
Organisations operating in Wales should consider:
How existing safeguarding arrangements may be affected by future reforms.
Whether governance structures provide clear accountability and oversight.
How safeguarding intelligence is gathered, analysed and used.
Whether learning from reviews and incidents results in demonstrable improvements.
How the voices of children, adults at risk, victims and survivors influence safeguarding decisions.
RLB reflection: Effective safeguarding assurance should not simply identify whether systems exist. It should examine whether those systems identify risks, respond effectively and produce meaningful improvements for the people they are intended to protect.
Read the Welsh Government's Stronger Safeguarding for a Safer Wales statement
11. Government Announces Consultation on Extending Awaab's Law to More Homes
Published: 8 October 2026 | England
The government has announced a consultation on extending Awaab's Law protections to private rented accommodation, with consideration also being given to temporary accommodation, housing for care leavers and supported housing.
Awaab's Law was introduced following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020, after prolonged exposure to dangerous damp and mould.
Protections are already in force for social housing tenants, requiring landlords to respond to certain serious hazards within legally defined timescales.
The latest proposals could extend stronger protections to millions more households, including people who may face additional barriers to securing safe accommodation.
The consultation closes on 18 December 2026.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Unsafe housing conditions are not simply a property management concern. They can have serious implications for physical health, emotional wellbeing, child development and the safety of adults with care and support needs.
For children, prolonged exposure to damp, mould, cold or other serious hazards can create significant health risks.
For adults, particularly older people, disabled people and those living in supported accommodation, poor housing conditions may contribute to increased vulnerability and harm.
Safeguarding professionals and housing providers should consider:
How concerns about unsafe accommodation are identified and escalated.
Whether staff recognise the potential safeguarding implications of environmental hazards.
How concerns are shared between housing, health, social care and safeguarding services.
Whether residents feel confident reporting concerns without fear of repercussions.
How organisations identify repeated failures to respond to serious housing risks.
RLB reflection: Safeguarding must consider the environments in which people live. Where unsafe conditions create foreseeable risks of harm, professionals and organisations must understand their responsibilities and take appropriate action.
Importantly, poor housing conditions do not automatically constitute abuse or neglect under safeguarding legislation, but they should prompt professional curiosity and an appropriate assessment of risk.
Read the government's announcement on dangerous homes and Awaab's Law
12. Independent Research Finds Ofsted's Renewed Inspections More Collaborative and Respectful
Published: 9 October 2026 | England
Independent research commissioned by Ofsted has reported broadly positive early feedback from education providers inspected under its renewed Education Inspection Framework.
The research, conducted by IFF Research, gathered feedback from school, early years and further education leaders following inspections undertaken between January and April 2026.
Key findings include:
88% agreed their inspection was conducted respectfully.
76% described the process as collaborative.
78% agreed inspectors demonstrated empathy.
74% agreed inspectors sought to understand their provision's individual context.
81% agreed their report card accurately reflected what it was like to be a child or learner within their provision.
However, the research also identified continuing concerns around workload and wellbeing.
Four in ten providers reported that inspection had negatively affected their own or their staff's mental wellbeing to a considerable degree.
A fuller evaluation is expected in 2027.
Why this matters for safeguarding
Inspection and regulatory scrutiny play an important role in evaluating safeguarding effectiveness, identifying weaknesses and driving improvement.
However, the way scrutiny is conducted can influence organisational openness, professional confidence and the willingness of leaders and staff to discuss challenges.
Effective scrutiny should be robust, independent and appropriately challenging, while also creating opportunities for honest reflection and improvement.
Organisations should consider:
Whether safeguarding assurance focuses on outcomes and lived experiences rather than documentation alone.
How staff wellbeing and organisational culture influence safeguarding practice.
Whether leaders feel able to acknowledge weaknesses and seek improvement.
How feedback from inspections is translated into meaningful action.
Whether safeguarding scrutiny is sufficiently contextualised to understand the people and communities being supported.
RLB reflection: Good safeguarding scrutiny should challenge practice without creating a culture of fear. The purpose of assurance is not simply to identify shortcomings, but to support meaningful improvement and ultimately make people safer.
Read Ofsted's announcement and independent research findings
Final Reflections: Safeguarding Beyond Compliance
These twelve developments demonstrate just how broad and interconnected safeguarding responsibilities have become.
From online exploitation and bullying to unsafe housing, institutional accountability, national reform and safeguarding governance, the common message is clear.
Effective safeguarding is about understanding risk, recognising inequality, listening to people's experiences and ensuring that organisations are genuinely accountable for the safety and wellbeing of those they support.
Several important themes emerge:
1. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, but accountability must be clear.
The updated Charity Commission guidance and Welsh Government reform programme reinforce the importance of leadership, governance and effective oversight.
2. Safeguarding must reflect the environments in which people live, learn and interact.
Online spaces, education settings, housing, community services and workplaces all present different risks requiring informed and proportionate responses.
3. Listening to lived experiences is essential.
Children, adults at risk, victims, survivors, families and professionals can provide valuable insight into whether safeguarding arrangements are working in practice.
4. Organisational culture matters.
Policies alone cannot create safer environments. Leadership behaviours, professional curiosity, openness, challenge and accountability all influence safeguarding effectiveness.
5. Assurance should lead to improvement.
Whether through inspections, independent audits, governance reviews or learning from serious incidents, the ultimate purpose of safeguarding scrutiny is to improve outcomes and prevent harm.
At RLB Safeguarding Ltd, we encourage organisations to ask themselves:
Are we simply demonstrating compliance, or can we evidence that our safeguarding arrangements are genuinely making people safer?
That distinction sits at the heart of effective safeguarding practice.
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RLB Safeguarding Ltd- Going Beyond Compliance.