Oxfordshire has been in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years: in 2013, a gang was convicted of sexually exploiting children in care; in 2015, the council announced plans to close most of its 44 children's centres due to funding pressures; and a serious case review published earlier this year criticised social workers for their "unevidenced optimism" in a case where a special guardian abused children.
The council has responded by overhauling its procedures for tackling child sexual exploitation (CSE) and working with the community to ensure most children's centres remain open.
It has done this as care demand has risen significantly and the children's services budget was cut by six per cent, reducing early help funding by a third (see graphics).
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