It wasn't quite the induction she'd planned, explains Kath O'Dwyer, recalling the start of her tenure as Warrington Borough Council's strategic director of children's services.
Just days after she joined in September 2009, Ofsted began a full inspection of safeguarding that would lead, five weeks later, to the publication of a damning report and an "inadequate" rating, closely followed by an improvement notice from the Department for Education (DfE).
The report made for "grim reading", admits O'Dwyer. Inspectors identified substantial weaknesses in safeguarding, including "unacceptable delays"
in assessments, with significant failings at a strategic level. A lack of scrutiny and oversight had contributed to poor recording of cases and weak child protection planning.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
