Join us for two data deep dive sessions , 24th February 1-2pm and 10th March 1-2pm. As learning from the DFJ Trailblazer Programme continues to shape thinking across the sector, many local authorities are beginning to focus on what this means for data, analysis and performance reporting. With changes on the horizon, including a new statutory pre-proceedings dataset, analysts and data leads are increasingly being asked to think ahead about how data is designed, interpreted and

Morgan Nasir-Finlayson highlights the importance of lived experience and kindness. Reflecting on her work leading the Designated Family Judge Trailblazers programme , Morgan shares how including people with lived experience in decision-making is crucial to meaningful change.   Thank you to graduates of the Pause programme and Family Justice Young People’s Board who helped us with our work. Click here to listen to The Journey Through Proceedings podcast. If you'd like to discu

Mutual Ventures welcomes the government's plan for renewing fostering and the commitment to further embedding regional collaboration. The announcement on fostering marks a significant move in the government's ambition to reform children's social care and provide more loving homes for children. It is an acknowledgement of the vital role that foster carers play in the social care system, society and in the lives of vulnerable children. Central to the proposals is a bold commitm

In this article, Ben Rosie argues that the family justice system remains too complex and inaccessible for the families it serves. There is a need for clearer communication, more inclusive practices, and a culture that enables families to understand and participate meaningfully in decisions that shape their lives. For many families, involvement in the family court is often their first interaction with the legal system and one of the most distressing experiences they will ever

The next twelve months will be critical for public services and determine the scale of the reform that will be delivered in the next three years. John Copps picks out some of the areas to watch out for. 2025 felt like stuttering progress for a government that has styled itself as a champion of public services. It was always going to be a tough job, but the rollercoaster of the previous ten years has not been replaced by something that feels like stability. There’s been lots o

Building on the success of the DFJ Trailblazer and Guided Learning programmes, Mutual Ventures has been commissioned by the Department for Education to help all DFJ areas in England participate in the National Learning Support programme. In a series of articles, the Mutual Ventures team summarises the DFJ Area Trailblazer Pilot, sharing insights from the five pilot areas to inform others developing their own solutions. In the fourth article, Ross Murray, explores efforts to i

Building on the success of the DFJ Trailblazer and Guided Learning programmes, Mutual Ventures has been commissioned by the Department for Education to help all DFJ areas in England participate in the National Learning Support programme. In a series of articles, the Mutual Ventures team summarises the DFJ Area Trailblazer Pilot, sharing insights from the five pilot areas to inform others developing their own solutions. In the fifth article, Ross Murray, explores efforts to be

Catch up with our webinar that explored inclusive change and the  Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme, and how children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) can be central to these reforms. Local authorities are leading the way in implementing the Families First Partnership (FFP) Programme reforms, transforming how support is delivered to children and families. But how do these changes impact children and young people with Special Edu

Building on the success of the DFJ Trailblazer and Guided Learning programmes, Mutual Ventures has been commissioned by the Department for Education to help all DFJ areas in England participate in the National Learning Support programme. In a series of articles, the Mutual Ventures team summarises the DFJ Area Trailblazer Pilot, sharing insights from the five pilot areas to inform others developing their own solutions. In the third article, Ross Murray, explores efforts to st

Client:  Department for Education  Date:  April 2024 – April 2025 Challenges faced by the client: Local Authorities bear a statutory responsibility to ensure there is sufficient and suitable accommodation for looked-after children. Local authorities commission services within a market that, despite its necessity, faces significant and well-documented challenges. Recent influential reviews, such as the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and the Competition and Market

Following the success of the DFJ Trailblazer programme and subsequent Guided Learning programme, Mutual Ventures has been commissioned by the Department for Education to support all DFJ areas across England to take part in the National Learning Support programme. In a series of articles, Luke Bevir provides an overview of the previous DFJ Area Trailblazer Pilot, the five pilot areas’ journeys to share learning that will be relevant for other DFJ Areas beginning to develop the

Following the success of the DFJ Trailblazer programme and subsequent Guided Learning programme, Mutual Ventures has been commissioned by...

Following the appointment of Josh MacAlister MP as the new Children's Minister, Luke Bevir, Catriona Moore, and Elizabeth Roe reflect on...

The government’s renewed focus on fostering is a welcome and timely step towards addressing the national shortage of carers. As delivery...

The National Audit Office’s (NAO) most recent report joins a growing number that have sounded the alarm on the crisis in children’s...

The Regional Care Cooperative (RCC) Pathfinder Programme aims to address rising costs, placement shortages, and fragmented commissioning...

Watch our free webinar as we explore potential implications of the Government’s commitment to “establish Young Futures Hubs in every...

This week, we are releasing the third and final episode of The Journey Through Proceedings, our new mini-series that brings the lived...

This week, we are releasing the second episode of The Journey Through Proceedings, a brand-new mini-series that brings the lived...

Drawing on our work across the justice system and wider children’s services, this report explores the conditions and actions needed to...