DfE orders children's services partnerships at three 'inadequate' councils

Leeds City Council will take over services in Kirklees, Camden Council will provide "intensive support" to Croydon, and Essex County Council has been appointed as "improvement adviser" in Barnet.

A statutory direction issued to Kirklees Council states that it must enter into a strategic partnership agreement with Leeds City Council within three months for a period of three years.

Children's services in Kirklees were rated "inadequate" in November 2016 after inspectors found instances of poor social work and cases of abuse not being spotted.

As part of the arrangement, the director of children's services for Leeds City Council will be appointed as director of children's services for Kirklees.

Meanwhile a statutory direction issued to Croydon has told the local authority to work with Camden Council to "develop a proposal for intensive peer support over a minimum of a 12-month period".

Children's services in Croydon were rated "inadequate" in September 2017 after inspectors found that children were being left at risk of significant harm due to "widespread and serious failures".

A statutory direction issued to Barnet Council states that, as improvement adviser, Essex County Council will be expected to lead and direct the improvement programme for the council on areas of practice that Ofsted deemed inadequate.

In addition to chairing Barnet's Children's Services Improvement Board, Essex will provide leadership, support and practice advice, provide coaching and supervision to the children's services senior team, as well as provide training and coaching to the key elected politicians.

Children's services in Barnet were rated "inadequate" In July 2017, after Ofsted uncovered "widespread and serious failures in the services provided to children and their families".