DfE to consider stripping children's services from 'inadequate' council

Children's services at Kirklees Council have been rated "inadequate" after an inspection that took place between 12 September and 6 October identified concerns in more than a third of children's cases looked at, including unrecognised neglect and abuse. Services had previously been rated as "good" following an inspection in November 2011.

The DfE has issued a direction notice appointing Eleanor Brazil as commissioner of children's services at the local authority and have asked her to prepare a report by 31 March 2017 on whether alternative delivery arrangements are the most effective way of securing and sustaining improvement.

It follows Ofsted inspectors identifying "serious and widespread" concerns during their visit.

"Much of the social work support is poor, including inadequate assessments, decision making, planning and management oversight," the inspection report states.

"As a result, some children are not having their needs met and are remaining in high-risk environments for too long, and there are serious delays in actions being taken to protect them."

The report reveals that in August 2015, the chief executive was alerted to concerns about social work practice by the local safeguarding children board. As a result, an external review of services was commissioned that identified "serious concerns".

In light of this, an internal audit of 226 cases - approximately 10 per cent of the cases open to the service at the time - was conducted, which found "widespread poor practice". As a result, urgent action had to be taken to safeguard some children.

"In response, the chief executive recruited an interim assistant director, appointed a new director for children and young people, and established a multi-agency development board to lead the improvement journey," the report states.

Changes at the top emerged publicly in February this year, when it was announced that Alison O'Sullivan, who was president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services at the time, would retire in April when her year-long term came to an end.

Her replacement Sarah Callaghan, previously deputy director of children's services at Warrington Council, began work at Kirklees Council in March.

The report states that since the new director assumed her post, there have been "considerable efforts" to accelerate the improvement of children's services.

But inspectors said many of the recent developments have yet to be embedded, and are not yet making a sufficient difference to children's experiences.

"As a result of the improvement focus by the new director and the new senior management team over the past five months, over 500 children, who had been subject to a child protection conference or a child looked after review during this time, were identified by the new dispute resolution process as receiving a poor service," the report states.

"However, when issues have been identified, the responses have not always addressed the concerns in a robust manner, resulting in some children remaining in unsafe environments or in situations where their needs were not being met.

The report adds that the local authority has not systematically assured itself, in all cases open to it, that children are safe and are being provided with services that meet their needs, something inspectors highlight as "a major weakness" in the plans to improve services.

"There are considerable issues in relation to the help and protection services, with too many children not having their needs met and actions being taken to protect them being seriously delayed.

"This is due to serious deficits in social work management and practice. Assessments and plans are often poor, failing to recognise risk. Decision making to ensure that children are safe are inconsistent, leaving some children not safeguarded.

"Multi-agency meetings are not taking place and there is too much focus on the parents, rather than on the experience of children.

"Children are not always visited by social workers at the timescales identified in their plans."

Services for looked-after children were also deemed to be inadequate, due to serious and widespread issues.

Adrian Lythgo, chief executive of Kirklees Council, said: "Bringing services up to the right standard for children and families is our number one priority.

"We want all children to be safe and to have the best start in life, helping them fulfil their potential.
 
"The report recognises that our new management team know these services well, have made major improvements and are working with a clear, long-term vision.
 
"All local agencies who are responsible for safeguarding children are working together closely. Our shared commitment is to protect children and meet their needs in the best possible way."