Ofsted praises improvements at Durham Council
Nina Jacobs
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Looked-after children and care leavers in Durham are benefiting from a "good" service despite children's services overall still being rated "requires improvement", according to Ofsted.
An inspection carried out over a two-week period in September found that Durham County Council had taken "swift and decisive action to strengthen services" with "solid improvements" in many services areas, including for children in care.
Inspectors praised the quality of practice for children in care highlighting that "children influence leaders at all levels" and impacted on providing good services for looked-after children and care leavers.
They also found children and young people were benefiting from "access to effective advocacy" and the need for an independent visitor was "well considered" in children's views.
The council, which received an "outstanding" rating for its child protection in 2012, was handed a "requires improvement" rating for its children's services following a visit by the inspectorate in 2016.
Since then, there had been a "deterioration" in the impact of some services and "substantial work to lay the foundations for positive change had not yet delivered the consistent impact required", the inspection report states.
A joint targeted area inspection carried out last July found that multi-agency working and strategy meetings were areas requiring priority action.
"A focused visit of children in need and those subject to a child protection plan in January 2019 demonstrated some improvements, but weaknesses remained and there was drift and delay for children, as well as in recording and management oversight," the report adds.
However, inspectors praised the council for its work to build on the improvements made singling out a "significant increase" in workforce capacity and a restructure of children's services, including the senior leadership team. But not all children receive help early enough.
"Management oversight, challenge and consistency of social work practice are not fully embedded in all service areas, including those for disabled children, those for children who are privately fostered and those for homeless 16- and 17-year-olds.
"Senior leaders and managers were not aware of some of these shortfalls until the inspection. However, they made plans to address them during the inspection," the report states.
The report makes recommendations to improve the council's timeliness in areas including assessments for children who return home and foster carers' reviews.
John Pearce, Durham's corporate director for children and young people's services, said Ofsted had recognised the improvements made across many service areas.
"It is particularly pleasing that the inspection found that the experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers are good, that adoption services are excellent, that children influence leaders at all levels, and that there has been a significant increase in workforce capacity, with changes to our leadership structure improving practice oversight.
"The inspectors concluded this has led to the quality of practice improving and also noted there is strong political and corporate focus, oversight and challenge.
"This includes positive feedback on corporate parenting and scrutiny processes," he said.
However, Pearce, who took up post in September, said while the council was "disappointed" the progress made had not resulted in an improved rating from Ofsted, plans had been made to address areas still requiring improvement.
"As the inspection team also identified, we have firm foundations in place to sustain and build on the improvements we have made and we are fully committed to doing so for the benefit of all our children and young people," he added.
