On the back of recommendations made in Sir Alan Wood's 2016 review of LSCBs, the current system is set to be scrapped and replaced with a new way of investigating child deaths.
The Department for Education has been planning for a 15-month transition period, but until now there was no detail on when this would begin.
But a newly-published DfE document outlining approved timetables for key reforms within the department reveals new regulations will be put in place by May 2018, with local authorities being required to have their new arrangements in place by September 2019.
Legislation to reform multi-agency safeguarding arrangements formed part of the Children and Social Work Act 2017, which sets out the new safeguarding duties.
However, the legislation is yet to be formally enacted. Once the legislation is triggered, the requirement for councils to have LSCBs will be replaced with a requirement on three partners - local authorities, the police and the health service - to make arrangements for working together on child protection in a local area.
Under the DfE's plans, safeguarding partners will have up to 12 months to agree the arrangements for themselves, and any other relevant agencies they consider appropriate, to work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in their area.
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