Inspectors rated the leadership, overall effectiveness, and child protection as “inadequate” following their visit in December last year.
They noted that reorganisation at the council in 2019, which saw it merge three areas in Dorset, was starting to make a positive difference but “it is too early to see an impact” on children and families’ lives.
Issuing the council with a statutory direction notice, DfE said the council “is failing to perform to an adequate standard” and needs outside help to improve.
Children’s services veteran John Coughlan has been appointed as an improvement adviser to the council to support improvements.
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