Safeguarding services in the London Borough of Sutton branded inadequate

Following an inspection carried out in April, the council has been instructed to draw up an improvement plan immediately and to audit the cases of all local looked-after children and children subject to child in need or child protection plans.

“The general quality of casework for children and young people who needed protection was poor and in numerous cases this had led to children and young people not being supported effectively enough resulting in insufficient positive change taking place in their individual circumstances,” the report said.

“Managerial oversight at all levels is a serious area of weakness and there is little evidence of appropriate challenge taking place leading to improved practice and outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.”

The report added that assessments and subsequent plans for children are “generally of poor quality”, while managers' involvement in casework was not at an appropriate level, even though this was highlighted as "an area for development" in two inspections in 2010 and 2011.

Despite this, services for looked-after children at the council were rated as passable. “The overall effectiveness of services for looked-after children and young people are adequate,” the report said.

“Some outcomes are improving well; such as placement stability and the number of looked-after children who are offenders is reducing.”

David Callaghan, the Liberal Democrat chair of Sutton Council’s children, family and education committee, and Jonathan Pritchard, the local Conservative councillor with responsibility for children’s services, issued a joint statement on the Ofsted judgment.

“We take our responsibility to ensure vulnerable children are protected very seriously, and we are extremely disappointed by the findings in the Ofsted report,” the statement said.

“Both main parties in Sutton will be working tirelessly to ensure improvements are made and our services to children are urgently improved. We will not rest until we are satisfied everything is being done to protect vulnerable children in Sutton.”