Committees

Human Rights of Children in the Social Care System in England

Inquiry

This inquiry will consider the extent to which the human rights of children in England are protected in the social care system. This inquiry will have a particular focus on children in care (“looked after children”), but wider aspects of the children’s social care system will be relevant, for example in regard to the availability of additional support to families with disabled children, or to the efficacy of early intervention measures, and kinship care.

Fill out our survey if you have experience of the children's social care system in England

Read the terms of reference for the inquiry

This inquiry is no longer accepting evidence

The deadline for submissions was 11:59pm on 3 September 2025.

Upcoming events

View all events

No upcoming events scheduled

Past events

Wednesday 3 June 2026
2:00pm Private
2:15pm Public
Human Rights of Children in the Social Care System in England - Oral evidence 3 June 2026
2:15pm
  • Josh MacAlister MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families) at Department for Education)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 11 March 2026
2:00pm Private
2:15pm Public
Human Rights of Children in the Social Care System in England - Oral evidence 11 March 2026
2:15pm
  • Yvette Stanley (National Director for Regulation and Social Care at Ofsted)
3:15pm
  • Andrew Reece (Strategic Lead at Wales & England British Association of Social Workers)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 21 January 2026
2:00pm Public
Oral evidence session 21 January 2026
Human Rights of Children in the Social Care System in England - Oral evidence
2:00pm
  • Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England
Human Rights and the Regulation of AI - Oral evidence
3:00pm
  • Alexandria Walden (Global Head of Human Rights at Google)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster
Wednesday 10 December 2025
2:00pm Private
2:15pm Public
Human Rights of Children in the Social Care System in England - Oral evidence 10 December 2025
2:15pm
  • Caroline Coady (Deputy Director - Social Care at National Children's Bureau)
  • Anna Bird (CEO at Contact: for families with disabled children)
3:15pm
  • Alex Ruck Keene KC (Hon) (Barrister at 39 Essex Chambers)
  • Professor Alison Young (Commissioner (Public Law and Law in Wales) at Law Commission)
  • Connor Johnston (Senior Lawyer at Law Commission)
Room 5, Palace of Westminster

Contact us

We receive a significant number of emails each day. All requests and invitations are considered but we do not respond directly to everyone. Please be aware, the committee does not look at individual cases or specific complaints.

  • Email: jchr@parliament.uk
  • Address: Joint Committee on Human Rights, Houses of Parliament. London. SW1A 0AA