Government adviser slams Ofsted over disputed 'inadequate' rating

Ray Jones, professor of social work at Kingston University, said the “inadequate” Ofsted rating handed to Sandwell was flawed because it did not take into account safeguarding work carried out with a wide range of agencies.

Jones, who was appointed by the government in late 2013 to oversee work at Sandwell Council, told CYP Now that, rather than failing, children’s services at the West Midlands authority are "well on the journey to being a ‘good’ department".

The Ofsted report into Sandwell, published last Friday, concluded that children’s services leaders had failed to ensure vulnerable children are protected.

Inspectors also criticised the application of thresholds for social work intervention, and found arrangements for children who are missing and at risk of child sexual exploitation (CSE) to be “poor”. 

However, Jones said the inspectors’ verdict was largely shaped by Ofsted’s single inspection framework, which failed to recognise the multi-agency safeguarding arrangements in place in Sandwell.

He said: “Sandwell has created a pretty stable workforce with good, experienced managers in position with really strong multi-agency working.

"All of which leaves me to understand that they have got the building blocks in place for protecting children.

“This is not being recognised by Ofsted and one of the reasons for that is because of the myopic single inspection framework.

"It only focuses on the social worker and not on multi-agency working.

“It’s a particular issue when looking at CSE. You need to look at the [contributions of] police, school nurses, health, youth work and schools. Sandwell has made considerable progress on this and can be seen as well ahead of many places.

“The feedback given to Sandwell was that this [CSE] was the major issue. Ofsted take a view of social work being key and central and don’t give weighting to other agencies.”

Sandwell, which drafted in specialist consultancy firm Impower in November 2012 in a bid to improve services following a previous inadequate rating, has said it is considering appealing the latest Ofsted judgment.

Jones said it is a decision for the council to make, but added that he has communicated his concerns to senior civil servants.

Jones said: “I hope it doesn’t destabilise the improvement process in Sandwell, but it could set them back.”

In addition to Sandwell, Jones provides improvement support to Devon and Isle of Wight councils, reporting regularly to the children’s minister.

An Ofsted spokesman said: “We know that accepting an inadequate judgement is difficult, but the focus now needs to be on achieving better outcomes for vulnerable children in Sandwell.
 
“Ofsted has long recognised that multi-agency work is vital to ensure children are effectively safeguarded.

"Our single inspection framework is tougher, deeper and broader than any way of inspecting children’s services which preceded it.
 
“This summer Ofsted is piloting a new approach whereby areas will be inspected by Ofsted with the inspectorates for policing, health and probation too. These will have a specific focus on child sexual abuse.”