Council becomes third to receive 'outstanding' Ofsted grade for children's services

In an inspection report published today, Ofsted rated the authority outstanding in all areas except child protection, where it was rated "good".

Inspectors praised the council for its effective multi-agency arrangements for tackling child sexual exploitation and the creative ways it gathered and used the views of children and young people to inform its work.

The council also won praise for Phase, a social enterprise set up in 2014 which now commissions all accommodation for care leavers in North Lincolnshire among other activities.

Ofsted said Phase is "highly effective" in supporting care leavers and offers them "a ladder of differing accommodation before reaching independent tenancy".

North Lincolnshire's work in secondary schools to raise the career aspirations of vulnerable young people was also highlighted by the inspectors, who said this is a key reason why the area has a higher than average number of care leavers in employment, training or education.

Ofsted also noted how the stability of North Lincolnshire's social work and leadership teams had contributed to its success.

"Continuity of exceptional leadership for children's services… has been instrumental in embedding and sustaining a culture of child-centred excellence," the report states.

Denise Hyde, executive director of people and transformation at North Lincolnshire Council, said: "We are very pleased that North Lincolnshire Council is recognised nationally as among the very best.

"We strive to provide the best services to enable people to live independently with their families and their communities."

Ofsted's judgment makes North Lincolnshire Council only the third authority to achieve an outstanding grade under the single inspection framework. The other two outstanding-rated authorities are the London boroughs of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea.