First judgments show up flaws in new single inspection system

Ofsted’s new single inspection framework has proved controversial since conception, with concerns raised over how standards are determined and the way ratings are decided.

The framework brought together  the previously separate looked-after children and child protection inspections, and placed added emphasis on practice and outcomes over processes (see box).

Following the publication of the first tranche of reports last month, CYP Now spoke to children’s services leaders at all five of the authorities that went through the process to hear what the experience was like and to get an insight into what other councils can expect.

Derbyshire
Ian Thomas, strategic director of children’s services
Ofsted rating: good

Despite receiving a good rating, Ian Thomas says the sheer scale of the inspection proved problematic. “There is so much to cover,” he says. “They visited all of our six area offices over a vast area, and time was short towards the end.

“Even though they extended the inspection to a month, they were at risk of reverting back to focusing on processes rather than outcomes at the end.”

Thomas also feels the inspection may not be able to differentiate between small and large authorities.

“I’m not sure if the framework is sophisticated enough to give sufficient weighting to larger areas like mine that has additional complexities of having to work with more partners,” he says.

“I have four clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in my area, plus another CCG in a bordering area, as well as two hospital trusts and an acute mental health trust on top of that.

“That provides additional layers of complexity in partnership working and larger areas need additional credit for that.

“Is a ‘good’ in Derbyshire the same as a ‘good’ in a small borough with coterminosity?

“But that would be quite controversial because some small areas might be small, but have more difficulties in terms of their urban fabric.”

However, he says he supports the ambition of the new framework to focus on practice and outcomes.

“At the end of the day, it is the experience of kids that is most important,” he says.

“I’m not a fan of fancy strategies if they are not having a direct impact on service users. The only way to determine whether services are working is by speaking to them – and we build service user feedback into our services.