Blackpool is synonymous with the seaside and the council's children's services has spent much of the past two years in rough seas after being rated “inadequate” by Ofsted. However, support from a Department for Education commissioner, development of a new practice model and investment from the council has ensured the department did not founder on the rocks – in March, service leaders were told no further intervention would be required.
Retaining control of children's services has been a huge milestone for the North West council, but there are still many social challenges it faces: the borough has the highest levels of deprivation in England, a transient population due to the seasonal nature of work, and difficulty recruiting experienced staff. The impact of Covid-19 has been deeply felt, both from a health and wellbeing, and economic perspective.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
