Northamptonshire Children’s Trust has been on a significant improvement journey since its creation, focused on improving outcomes for children and young people and strengthening the quality of children’s social care across Northamptonshire. This report shares the learning, impact and outcomes from the Trust’s partnership with IMPOWER between 2023 and 2026, helping to address key challenges identified through inspection activity and embed a more consistent, child-centred approach to practice.

At the heart of this work is the Circle to Success programme and Valuing Care approach, which has helped create a shared understanding of children’s strengths, needs and experiences across children’s services. By supporting more informed decision-making, stronger care planning, improved permanence, needs-led commissioning and better matching of support, the programme has contributed to meaningful improvements for children and families.

The report explores how a systematic focus on understanding children’s needs has supported Colin Foster’s ambition to improve life chances for children and young people, while contributing to recognition from Ofsted in 2026 for a child-centred approach that has made a significant difference to children’s lives.