reas by the number of local areas who have implemented each stage 68 Appendix 4 – The design specifications for Wave 1 and Wave 2, including a summary of the proposed changes for Wave 2 73 Appendix 5 – FFC Workforce Survey Oct 24 and Feb 25 89 3 List of figures Figure 1: Timeline of the implementation of FFCP across Wave 1 and Wave 2 15 4 List of tables Table 1: Qualitative research methodology and sample .................................................. 18 Table 2 - Sample composition and participation by local areas ....................................... 20 5 1. Executive summary Background This executive summary provides a high-level overview of the first phase of the evaluation of the Families First for Children Pathfinder (FFCP). For full context, evidence, and detailed findings, please refer to the main body of the report. The FFCP was established by the Department for Education (DfE) to test the deliverability of key recommendations from some of the most significant reforms to how children and families are supported and protected – the 2022 Independent Review of Children’s Social Care (Care Review) and The Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s National Review into Child Protection in England (2022). It was designed to improve support and protection for children and families through earlier intervention, stronger multi-agency collaboration, and a more integrated approach to service delivery. The programme landed in a complex policy landscape where multiple government programmes were running in local areas simultaneously, including the Supporting Families Programme, SEND and AP Improvement Plan, a transition in the way that NHS organisations deliver health services (Integrated Care Boards), Family Hubs and Start for Life programmes, and three1 pilots to redu