Ofsted calls for improvements at former ‘outstanding' council

Following a visit covering February and March this year, inspectors found that the consistently high quality of services identified during Durham County Council's last inspection had not been maintained.

“Some services and a number of outcomes have improved, for example through the development of early help services, for children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation, for care leavers and for children whose plan is for adoption,” the inspection report states.

“However, assessments and plans for children in need of help and protection and children looked after are of variable quality and require improvement."

Inspectors said a reorganisation of children’s services in June 2014, which was followed by the establishment of a multi-agency safeguarding hub in March 2015, had a substantial impact on service delivery in Durham.

Although there was evidence of some positive impact across early help services, inspectors said some other frontline services "have not received sufficient attention".

And, as a result of recent staff shortages, two out of the three child protection teams have been unable to accept any new children’s cases.

"Consequently, caseloads in families first teams have increased," the report states.

"This has resulted in delays in assessment and the provision of services for some children with lower levels of need and risk."

The report adds that the reorganisation of services, alongside staff shortages, meant that some children and young people have had too many changes of social worker.

Meanwhile, the quality of assessments for children was found to not be consistently good, and care planning is "not always robust".

"Many plans are not sufficiently outcome focused, do not have clear timescales for actions to be completed and do not assist in improving outcomes for children," the report states.

The local authority did receive praise for its arrangements for children and young people who go missing and those at risk of child sexual exploitation. Inspectors said it is working effectively with partners to implement strategies and raise awareness. As a result, the number of children and young people who go missing has decreased.

Rachael Shimmin, director for children and adults services at Durham County Council, said the local authority is “absolutely committed” to making the improvements recommended.
 
“Based on the feedback during the inspection a great deal of work is already under way to bring these areas up to a consistently ‘good’ standard,” she said.
 
“It is important however to note that Ofsted praised a number of key areas of our services. These include our adoption services as well as those for care leavers and the local safeguarding children board.

“Our work on combating child sexual exploitation and services for substance misuse, as well as partnership working and staff training and development, were also described positively.
 
“As an ambitious and high-achieving council, we continually strive to improve our services and will use the Ofsted feedback to positively and proactively target our improvement activity.”