Ofsted inspectors highlighted “serious failures” in relation to the services looked-after children receive in Cumbria and also warned that responses to both child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse are “underdeveloped”.
Previous Ofsted inspections rated child protection services in Cumbria as “inadequate” in May 2013, and safeguarding and looked after children services as “inadequate” in May 2012.
The latest inspection found that “from a low base” leaders and managers had made progress in improving safeguarding services.
However they had not been able to tackle the “serious failures” in relation to the experiences of looked-after children.
“Too many looked-after children have experienced unacceptable drift in decision making and delay in the progress of their plans,” the report states.
Meanwhile social work practice was found to be “too variable”.
“Too often children’s plans, including those for looked-after children, are not reviewed and progressed quickly enough,” the report states.
Inspectors also found that there are insufficient resources to meet the emotional wellbeing needs of looked-after children.
They also highlighted the fact that care leavers do not receive the minimum £2,000 setting up home grant as recommended in statutory guidance.
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