Ofsted: Latest children’s services focused visits
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Ofsted has published the outcomes of a series of focused visits to local authority children’s services.
This page was last updated on 10 April 2024
Focused visits are carried out by the inspectorate to examine an aspect of service, a theme or the experiences of a cohort of children.
CYP Now looks at the most recent focused visits carried out in local authorities in England:
Central Bedfordshire Council
Inspectors visited Central Bedforshire’s children's services on 20 and 21 February 2024 to examine the local authority’s arrangements and support for children in need, including those children who are subject to a child protection plan.
They found that since the local authority was last inspected, in 2022, the support and management oversight for children in need of help and protection have strengthened. Thresholds are well understood and applied. Child protection chairs’ oversight and challenge ensure that the vast majority of children, including those with complex needs, are safeguarded effectively.
The full report can be read here.
Wokingham Borough Council
Inspectors visited Wokingham's children's services on 20 and 21 February 2024 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for children in need, including those children who are subject to a child protection plan.
They found that senior managers have undertaken significant work to address the areas for improvement identified at the previous inspection in March 2023. This includes the timeliness of assessments and the quality of child-in-need and child protection plans.
The full report can be read here.
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visited Knowsley’s children's services on 31 January and 1 February 2024 to examine the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
They found that for most 16- and 17-year-olds, who are about to move out of care, their social workers have a good understanding of the risks that they can be exposed to and take effective action to safeguard them and promote their safety.
However, pathway plans are of variable quality for children aged 16 and 17.
The full report can be read here.
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visited Stockport's children's services on 24 and 25 January 2024 to assess the local authority’s arrangements for children in need and children subject to a child protection plan.
They found that a greater demand for children’s services and an increase in the complexity of work, “against a backdrop of increased staff turnover and more inexperience across the workforce” since the council’s last inspection in April 2022, has had a detrimental impact on “the consistency of quality of practice for some children in need of help and protection”.
The full report can be read here.
Newham Borough Council
Inspectors visited Newham’s children's services on 24 and 25 January 2024 to look at the local authority’s arrangements and support for young people in care aged 16 and 17 and moving into adulthood, and for care-experienced young people aged 18 to 25.
They found that care-experienced young people and those aged 16 and 17 and moving into adulthood are well supported, with the vast majority, including those who live out of the borough, in suitable and stable accommodation.
The full report can be read here.
North Lincolnshire Council
Inspectors visited North Lincolnshire's children's services on 23 and 24 January 2024 to examine the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers aged 18 to 25, in particular, the quality and suitability of accommodation, support into adulthood and care leavers with specific needs.
They found that care leavers in North Lincolnshire receive comprehensive and timely support, which helps them to make progress in their lives. They benefit from suitable and stable accommodation and a range of creative interventions that meet their needs, reduce risks and help them to achieve.
The full report can be read here.
Kent County Council
Inspectors visited Kent’s children's services on 23 and 24 January 2024 to examine the local authority’s arrangements for the ‘front door’, with a specific focus on assessments and decision-making, including child protection enquiries and decisions to accommodate children.
They found that most children referred to the ‘front door’ service receive a timely and appropriate response. Managers and social workers demonstrate a clear understanding of risk. Thresholds are applied appropriately, with regular and effective management oversight.
The full report can be read here.
London Borough of Bromley
Inspectors visited Bromley's children's services on 13 to 17 November 2023 to assess children's services since the last inspection in 2018.
They found that leaders in Bromley had continued to strengthen and further enhance practice since the previous inspection.
Impressive leadership, strong feedback programmes and a well-established audit programme are areas which inspectors praised.
The full report can be read here.
York City Council
Inspectors visited York City Council’s children's services on 1 to 2 August 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
They found that care leavers were very well supported by staff and are involved from an early stage in decisions which affect them. They were encouraged to become involved in service and practice developments as workers were emotionally invested in them and supported them well into adulthood.
Inspectors concluded that the consistency and recording of case supervision and key decision making and the regularity of pathway plans could be improved.
Read the full report here.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
Inspectors visited Redcar and Cleveland’s children’s services on 4 to 5 July 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for front door.
They found that systems and processes have been strengthened and children now receive an appropriate level of support at the right time, as risk of harm and need are recognised promptly. Staff and managers at the front door constantly focus on what is right for the children and have strong political support.
Inspectors concluded that senior leaders overall responded swiftly to the areas for improvement identified in June 2022, but there could be wider partnership understanding of the threshold for referral to children’s social care and further work with the police to address the volume of inappropriate police protection notifications to children’s social care.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Lambeth
Inspectors visited Lambeth’s children’s services on 27 June to 28 June 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for children in need and children subject to a protection plan.
They found that leaders have established more robust governance arrangements since the last visit, with extra layers of scrutiny added to the oversight of the quality of children’s services.
Social workers are undertaking thorough assessments of needs, however not all young people are receiving support at the right level, including disabled children. Inspectors also concluded that cases should be transferred more effectively between social work teams.
Read the full report here.
Luton Borough Council
Inspectors visited Luton Borough Council's children's services on 14 and 15 June 2023 to look at the local authority's arrangements for the "front door".
Ofsted found that changes in leadership had been well managed, and the workforce in the front door and assessment services has been slowly stabilising. Quality assurance processes have also "increased in their reach and effectiveness", inspectors note, adding that leaders acknowledged that there is still more to do to ensure consistency and quality across all practice.
Read the full report here.
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Inspectors visited Southend-on-Sea's children's services on 23 May 2023 to look at the local authority's arangements for children in need or subject to a protection plan.
They found that leaders have created an environment in which social workers can build strong and trusting relationships with children, making for effective child-focused services.
Ofsted found that quality and regularity is not yet consistent, with inspectors noting: "For some children living in neglectful and/or with domestic abuse, help is not provided consistently; they remain living in circumstances without sustained progress being made."
Read the full report here.
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visited Calderdale children's services on 17 and 18 May 2023 to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in need and child protection planning.
Ofsted found that since the last inspection in 2018, leaders have ensured that areas identified for improvement have been addressed and understand where further development is needed.
"An environment has been created where workers feel safe to practise," the report states. "This is enabling practitioners to work effectively with children who require CIN or child protection planning."
Read the full report here.
Dorset Council
Inspectors visited Dorset's children's services on 17 and 18 May 2023 to look at the local authority's arrangements for 16-and 17-year-old care leavers.
They found that leaders had "significantly strengthened" support for care leavers, and had made notable improvements in the quality and standard of their accommodation.
"Care leavers receive strong and effective support and have access to a wide range of specialist services," the report says. "Each young person is helped by a skilled and dedicated personal adviser."
Read the full report here.
Leicestershire County Council
Inspectors visited Leicestershire children's services on 11 and 12 May 2023 to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in care, focusing on decision-making, permanence planning, and the experiences of disabled children in care.
They found that the quality and impact of social work practice had improved since the last inspection in 2019, and that increasing numbers of children are achieving permanence within their own family networks through special guardianship orders. More children are also entering permanent foster placements, the report adds.
"Social work practice with children in care, including those with a disability, is consistently child-focused, " inspectors said. "This impacts positively on their life experiences and their physical and emotional well-being."
Read the full report here.
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visited Doncaster's children's services on 3 and 4 May 2023 to look at the local authority's arrangements for the "front door".
They found that senior leaders had significantly improved strategic planning and partnership working at the front door since the last inspection, and that leaders know the service well.
"Risks are well understood, and managers provide clear direction to social workers to ensure that children receive the most appropriate service response," inspectors note.
Though staff responses to children's and families' needs out of hours, Ofsted found that there are insufficient emergency placements, resulting in some children being accommodated in the police station overnight after entering care due to police powers of protection.
Read the full report here.
Wigan Council
Inspectors visited Wigan's children's services on 3 and 4 May 2023 to look at the local authority's arrangements for the "front door".
They found that leaders had identified appropriate priority areas for improvement, ensuring a more effective and coordinated multi-agency response at the front door.
Ofsted found there was continued strong corporate and political support for children's services, including substantial financial investment. Inspectors note: "This has enabled senior leaders to respond proactively and creatively to workforce challenges, such as increasing the number of managers and social workers at the front door, which is having a positive impact on practice.
Read the full report here.
City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Inspectors visited Wakefield children’s services on 28 and 29 March 2023 to look at local authority’s arrangements for vulnerable care leavers.
Ofsted found that Wakefield Council had made progress since the last Ofsted visit in May 2021 in building trusting relationships with care leavers and meeting most of their needs, while understanding and effectively managing risks.
“Leaders have developed a culture and expectation that children should receive a quality service from all departments across the local authority,” inspectors note, adding that there is an ambition to develop services further to respond to young people’s changing needs as they transition from children’s to adult services.
Read the full report here.
Peterborough City Council
Inspectors visited Peterborough children’s services on 1 to 2 March 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for the “front door”.
They found that the new interim senior leadership team had identified “significant systemic practice concerns”, including weaknesses at the front door. Inspectors said that the team is working on developing action plans to address these concerns, which they are beginning to implement.
The report notes that change is slow, adding: “The arrangements to identify and respond to concerns raised regarding the safeguarding and well-being of children in Peterborough are not effectively promoting the protection of children.”
Inspectors say that risks and needs are not being fully understood or responded to in a timely manner, and as a result, children’s needs are not being identified and addressed quickly enough.
Read the full report here.
Warwickshire County Council
Inspectors visited Warwickshire County Council children’s services on 28 to 29 March 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care-experienced young people.
Ofsted found that following the previous inspection in November 2021 there has been continued improvement on the quality of services for care experienced young people, despite financial pressures and rising demand for services. Inspectors state: “Almost all care-experienced young people receive support and services that meet their needs effectively.”
The report notes that personal advisors could be allocated more swiftly, and that the effectiveness of management oversight of work with young people in custody and those in unsuitable accommodation could be improved.
Read the full report here.
Hampshire County Council
Ofsted visited Hampshire County Council on 31 January and 1 February 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for children in care.
Inspectors described arrangements as “a great credit to the stable, trusted leadership team and to frontline managers and practitioners”.
“The quality and impact of practice for children in care continue to be impressive” since the council’s last full inspection in May 2019 when it was rated “outstanding”, they added.
Read the full report here.
Barnsley Borough Council
Inspectors visited Barnsley Borough Council on 25 and 26 January 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
They found that workforce challenges and workload pressures since Barnsley’s last inspection in 2018 have “weakened the quality and impact of frontline practice”.
“The service keeps in touch with care leavers. However, the approach is often piecemeal, with young people visited by a number of different social workers and personal advisers, making it harder for care leavers to sustain the meaningful relationships they need to have with trusted adults to support their transition to adulthood,” the report states.
Read the full report here.
Rutland Council
Inspectors visited Rutland Council on 24 January 2023 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for children in need, including those children subject to a child protection plan.
In its report, Ofsted praises the council, saying that “senior leaders and managers recognise and prioritise protecting and helping children at risk or in need”.
It adds that: “Social workers and their managers know their children well”.
Read the full report here.
Halton Borough Council
Inspectors visited Halton Borough Council on 23 and 24 November 2022 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for the “front door”. They also looked at the quality of management oversight, and whether performance management information and quality assurance activities provide managers with an accurate view of social work practice to help senior leaders improve outcomes for children.
Ofsted found that “a determined and recently appointed chief executive officer has secured corporate commitment and significant financial investment to children’s services in their drive to improve social work practice for children in need of help and protection”, following the identification of weaknesses in the service at its last full inspection in March 2021.
The report adds: “The development of a newly established senior leadership team has begun to accelerate the much-needed pace of change to the local authority’s improvement journey.”
Read the full report here.
Leicester City Council
Inspectors visited Leicester City Council on 13 and 14 December 2022 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for the "front door".
They found that leaders understand the service strengths in the front door, “specifically: timely multiagency responses to urgent safeguarding issues, the quality of assessments and initial plans, and the quality of direct work social workers undertake with children”.
However, improvements must be made around the “quality and effectiveness of management oversight in the duty and advice team”, inspectors said.
Read the full report here.
Southampton City Council
Inspectors visited Southampton City Council on 22 and 23 November 2022 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for children in need, including those who are subject to a child protection plan.
Ofsted found that Southampton City Council has made progress, since the last Ofsted visit in May 2021, in how it improves the experiences and outcomes for children in need of help and protection.
It added that “social workers are now much more likely to be permanent members of staff and to have a manageable caseload”.
However, inspectors identified areas of weaker practice in the quality of supervision and management oversight of children on child protection and child in need plans.
Read the full report here.
City of London Corporation
Inspectors visited the City of London Corporation on 8 and 9 November to look at the local authorities arrangements for "front door" service, which receives contacts and referrals, and at decision-making about child protection enquiries, decisions to step down to or step up from early help, and child in need assessments.
They found high-quality practice which ensures children benefit from effective and responsive front door services.
Ofsted also notes that leaders are creating an environment in which social work can flourish, with social workers experiencing manageable caseloads, approachable and visible leaders, and effective supervision which supports staff well.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Islington
Inspectors visited the London Borough of Islington on 19 and 20 October to examine the local authority's arrangements for care-experienced children and young people.
They found that care-experienced children and young people in Islington benefit from highly committed and determined professionals who work extremely well together. Strong collaborative work with partner agencies was also found to be reflected through shared corporate priorities in strategic plans.
Ofsted notes that most pathway plans strongly reflect the young person's voice, and sensitively explains the complexities of the issues they face. It also notes that partnership collaboration is "highly effective", and allows for seamless transition to adult services.
Inspectors also note that supervision records do not consistently record actions, or align them to findings from audits.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Ealing
Inspectors visited London Borough of Ealing on 18 and 19 October to look at the local authority's "front door" service, where the local authority and other agencies consider and respond to referrals about children who may be in need or at risk of harm.
They found that since the local authority's last inspection in 2019, the service received by children and families at the front door has improved, including the quality and timeliness of responses to referrals, which was previously identified as a significant area for improvement.
Ofsted notes that while the initial response to children at risk of immediate harm is swift, further visits to children as part of assessments are delayed for a minority of children.
Read the full report here.
Buckinghamshire Council
Inspectors visited Buckinghamshire Council on 12 and 13 October to look at the local authority's arrangements for care leavers.
They found that support to care leavers improved since the last inspection, but there remain inconsistencies in the quality of practice.
Ofsted notes that younger care leavers and those in education are encouraged to be successful and ambitious by staff, but it was found that few care leavers over the age of 21 receive active support, and more needs to be done to increase participation and knowledge of the care leaver offer for these young people.
It is also noted that only a small number of care leavers' records had been subject to audits in the six months prior to the inspection, and improvement was needed in the number, quality and impact of audits.
Read the full report here.
Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visit Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council on 11 and 12 October to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in need or children subject to a child protection plan.
Ofsted notes that additional funding of £3.7 million was secured to support a recent restructure and the development of specialist services, including the extension of the family group conference service. The changes made by the restructure was found to have improved the range of support in comparison to the provision at the last inspection a year ago.
Inspectors also note that the quality of social work practice remains variable across the service, with a lack of clear, measurable outcomes for the children. Management oversight was also found to not always be clearly recorded or sufficiently challenging in order to drive improvements in the quality of practice. Senior leaders acknowledged that these issues had not improved as quickly as required since the previous inspection.
Read the full report here.
Sheffield City Council
Inspectors visited Sheffield City Council on 21 and 22 September to look at the local authority's arrangements for planning and achieving permanence.
They found that plans for permanence are identified at the earliest opportunity for most children, and there are effective arrangements in place for quality assuring and tracking.
Ofsted notes that social workers feel supported by managers, and value the learning and career development opportunities available.
Inspectors add that some children with disabilities who require support into adulthood do not always receive a smooth transition to adults services.
Read the full report here.
Derbyshire County Council
Inspectors visited Derbyshire County Council on 21 and 22 September to examine the local authority's arrangements for children in need or subject to a child protection plan.
Ofsted finds that senior leaders had continued to build on the early signs of progress identified at the last inspection, despite undergoing a change in leadership.
Inspectors note that children in need or subject to a child protection plan now experience a stronger and more consistent service, and are well supported by committed social workers.
The report adds that improvements are needed in creating manageable caseloads for workers, to enable them to complete tasks in a timely manner.
Read the full report here.
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Inspectors visited Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council to look at the local authority's arrangements for front door services, including decision-making for referrals, child protection enquiries, the decision to step down or step up from early help, and child in need assessments.
They found that children experience a delay in having their needs for help and protection assessed and met after being referred to services.
It is also noted that a significant number of children in need of assessment and support are currently unallocated due to a lack of social work capacity.
Ofsted adds that the quality and effectiveness of managerial oversight, timely case allocation, and supervision needs improvement.
Read the full report here.
North Somerset Council
Inspectors visited North Somerset Council on 21 and 22 September to examine the local authority's front door services.
In two focused visits and a standard inspection over the past three years, the front door services were identified as being weak. In response, senior leaders have established a single front door, which has taken too long to implement and is not yet providing consistently good enough response to children's needs.
Ofsted notes that the new system has led to quicker and more streamlined responses to professionals and families worried about children.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Hackney
Inspectors visited the London Borough of Hackney on 21 and 22 September to look at the local authority's arrangements for front door services.
They found that children in need of help and protection benefit from strong front door services, and the recent integration of early help workers into the multi-agency safeguarding hub is improving screening of contact and referrals.
Leaders recognise that caseloads in the access and assessment teams are too high, and that recording of supervision in inconsistent.
Read the full report here.
South Gloucestershire Council
Inspectors visited South Gloucestershire Council on 14 and 15 September to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in care.
They found that most children are living in homes that meet their needs, but children are not receiving consistently good service.
It is noted that senior leaders are aware of this issue, and are taking action to address practice weaknesses.
Inspectors add that the local authority has responded positively to the arrival of unexpected unaccompanied asylum-seeking children by ensuring they are looked after and cared for appropriately.
Read the full report here.
Northumberland County Council
Inspectors visited Northumberland County Council on 26 and 27 July to look at the local authority's arrangements for planning and achieving permanence.
They found that social workers identify permanence plans for children at the earliest opportunity, and use personalised and sensitive tools to communicate effectively with children.
It is noted that a small number of older children and children with complex needs experience drift due to multiple placements or changes of social worker.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Inspectors visited London Borough of Tower Hamlets on 26 and 27 July to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in care.
They found that the vast majority of children are living in placements that meet their individual needs. The report also notes that despite challenges of poverty, deprivation and diversity in the borough, the leadership team are on an ambitious route to improving services for children in care.
Ofsted adds that improvements are needed in governance arrangements in overseeing children missing from care or at risk of exploitation.
Read the full report here.
Council to the Isles of Scilly
Inspectors visited the Council to the Isles of Scilly on 19 and 20 July to examine the local authority's arrangements for children in need and those subject to a child protection plan.
Ofsted notes that due to the local authority's size and location, the small workforce's effectiveness is vulnerable to the impact of staff turnover or sickness. It adds that senior managers do not have a robust contingency plan in place to tackle this weakness.
Inspectors note that children's records are generally weak due to poor record-keeping by staff and a cumbersome electronic recording system.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Enfield
Inspectors visited the London Borough of Enfield on 5 and 6 July to look at the local authority's arrangements for care leavers.
Ofsted found there has been a sustained focus from senior managers, elected members and partners, resulting in tangible improvements for care leavers.
Inspectors note that care leavers live in a range of safe and stable accommodation, which is situated close to their home neighbourhoods where possible.
Read the full report here.
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Inspectors visited the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to look at the local authority's arrangements for the protection of vulnerable children from extra-familial risk.
They found that vulnerable children receive excellent support from social workers and partner agencies, and safety plans address issues that make children vulnerable.
Ofsted notes that the social workers have a highly developed approach to supporting change for children and their families, and that senior leaders have developed highly effective partnerships with external agencies and commissioned services.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Westminster
Inspectors visited the London Borough of Westminster to look at the local authority's arrangements for the protection of vulnerable children from extra-familial risk.
They found that children at risk of extra-familial harm receive excellent support and services.
Ofsted notes that senior leaders and partners critically evaluate the impact of partnership work on children's lives, and fostered a culture of compassion and high support.
Read the full report here.
Staffordshire County Council
Inspectors visited Staffordshire County Council to look at the local authority's arrangements for children subject to child in need and child protection planning.
Ofsted found that assessments and plans are mostly effective in improving outcomes for children.
It is also noted that leaders have led the workforce effectively through a transformation of services, with a focus on building consistent relationships between children and social workers.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Waltham Forest
Inspectors visited the London Borough of Waltham Forest to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in need or subject to a child protection plan.
They found that effective performance had been maintained in many aspects, and children benefit from positive and helpful relationships with committed social workers.
Ofsted note that services for adolescents at risk of harm outside their families are particularly strong.
Inspectors add that some workers have high caseloads or are working with children who have needs beyond their level of professional experience, and note some weaknesses int he frequency and effectiveness of supervision.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Inspectors visited the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham on 4 and 5 May to look at the local authority's arrangements for planning and achieving permanence, with a particular focus on early permanence across all age groups.
They found that permanence planning and stability for children is starting to improve, but the practice remains too variable.
Ofsted notes that permanence planning for children living long-term in residential children's homes is weak, and management oversight and independent reviewing officer involvement is ineffective.
Read the full report here.
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Inspectors visited the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames on 17 and 18 May to look at the local authority's arrangements for front door services.
They found that children who are referred to Kingston's 'Single Point of Access' due to concerns about their safety or welfare receive a child-centred service from capable and dedicated staff. It is also noted that where there are clear safeguarding concerns, contacts are expedited quickly to ensure that decisions in respect of children are made quickly.
However, inspectors note that there are inconsistencies in the application of strategy meetings, resulting in professionals not making consistent best use of multi-agency information sharing to make informed decisions about next steps.
It is also noted that children and families ethnicities and cultures should be considered at the earliest opportunity.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Redbridge
Inspectors visited the London Borough of Redbridge on 27 and 28 April to look at the local authority's arrangements for its front door services.
They found the senior managers has further developed the front door since the last inspection in 2019, which now includes a domestic abuse Reach Out service and single points of contact for contextual safeguarding and children's mental health.
Ofsted notes that improvements are needed in the recording the decision-making and monitoring of progress when advice is given by the front door to other agencies.
Read the full report here.
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visited Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council on 27 and 28 April to look at the local authority's arrangements for front door services.
They found that despite council leaders agreeing to provide immediate additional investment to address a lack of capacity across several parts of the service at the previous focused visit last year, this had not been implemented at pace.
The local authority has continued to experience capacity issues across all levels of this service, and the response to some children at immediate risk of harm has deteriorated.
Read the full report here.
North Tyneside Council
Inspectors visited North Tyneside Council on 27 and 28 April to look at the local authority's arrangements for front door services through the multi-agency safeguarding hub and social work assessment teams.
They found that services were "highly effective" upon referral, and that thresholds to access early help and children's social care services are well understood and embedded across teams and partner agencies.
Ofsted note that the senior leadership team is strong and effective, and create an environment where excellent social work can flourish.
Read the full report here.
Nottinghamshire County Council
Inspectors visited Nottinghamshire County Council on 26 and 27 April to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in need or subject to a child protection plan.
They found the senior leadership team is strong, and supported by corporate and political leaders who have made significant financial investments.
Ofsted notes that leaders know there is more work to do to ensure all children receive consistently effective service quality, and that children are not consistently benefiting from purposeful direct work.
Read the full report here.
Telford and Wrekin Council
Inspectors visited Telford and Wrekin Council on 21 and 22 April to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in need or subject to a protection plan.
They found that senior leaders have maintained a focus on keeping children safe and maintaining quality, meaning children benefit from an effective range of support and services.
Ofsted also notes that most assessments are timely and well written, with clear evaluations which lead to appropriate recommendations for next steps.
Read the full report here.
Wokingham Borough Council
Inspectors visited Wokingham Borough Council on 12 and 13 April to look at the local authority's arrangements for children in care.
Afer being judged to require improvement at an ILACS inspection in June 2019, inspectors found that progress has been made in some areas of practice but there is still work to do.
Ofsted noted improvements in the regularity of visits to children in care, and in quality assurance of practice.
Inspectors note that improvements are needed in the quality of direct work with non-verbal disabled children, and with meeting the emotional well-being and educational needs of unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
Read the full report here.
Southend-on-Sea Council
Inspectors visited Southend-on-Sea Borough Council on 22 and 23 March to look at the local authority’s arrangements for matching, placements and decision-making for children in care, the experience and progress of disabled children in care and the progress of children living in unregulated or unregistered provision.
They found that senior leaders recognise the need to improve the support and stability that they provide to children in care and added that recently appointed senior officers are changing arrangements to oversee the progress of all children in care.
Ofsted also notes that Southend continues to face challenges in identifying suitable long-term homes for children.
Read the full report here.
Lincolnshire County Council
Inspectors visited Lincolnshire County Council on 16 and 17 March to examine the local authority’s arrangements for children in need and children subject to a protection plan.
Ofsted noted that children are supported highly effectively to make good progress and added that “strong relationship-based social work practice underpins all of the local authority services”.
Services for children have remained a high priority throughout the pandemic and resources have been protected and enhanced since the last Ofsted inspection in 2019, the report states.
Read the full report here.
Cambridgeshire County Council
Inspectors visited Cambridgeshire on 10 and 11 March to examine the council’s arrangements for children in need and children subject to a protection plan.
At the last inspection of Cambridgeshire children’s services in January 2019, the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection were found to “require improvement to be good”.
The report states that disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and continuing challenges in recruiting enough social workers, has meant that improvement has not been made at sufficient pace in services for children in need and those in need of protection.
Read the full report here.
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visited South Tyneside on 2 and 3 March to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
“Dedicated and committed workers in the integrated looked after children and leaving care teams support young people to prepare for and leave care extremely well,” inspectors found.
However, they urged the council to improve the recording of staff supervision.
Read the full report here.
Reading Borough Council
Inspectors visited Reading Borough Council on 16 and 17 February to look at arrangements for children in need and children subject to a child protection plan.
Reading was judged as “requires improvement to be good” at its last full inspection in September 2019.
However, inspectors not in their latest report that improvement activity carried out by the council “has not resulted in sufficient improvement”.
“There are shortfalls in many aspects of work relevant to the progress of children in need and children subject to child protection plans that were also identified as areas for improvement at the last inspection,” the report states.
Read the full report here.
Calderdale Borough Council
Inspectors visited Calderdale Council on 14 and 15 February to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
A previous inspection of Calderdale children’s services took place in November 2018, when the experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers were found to be “outstanding”.
However, in 2021 the council brought the care leavers service back in house due to identified shortfalls in the quality of the service being provided to care leavers.
In the most recent visit by Ofsted, inspectors found that not all care leavers have received a service that has consistently met their needs due to issues in the recruitment and retention of staff.
Read the most recent report here.
Wiltshire Council
Inspectors visited Wiltshire Council on 24 and 25 January to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
They found that “care leavers in Wiltshire receive the right support, at the right time, to help them make progress in their lives and a large majority have positive experiences”.
Inspectors praised work by the council to celebrate the successes of care leavers.
Recommendations included in the follow-up letter to the council included improving the frequency and recording of reflective practice for social workers.
Wiltshire was rated as “good” by Ofsted following its last full inspection in June 2019.
Read the latest report from the focused visit here.
Suffolk County Council
Inspectors visited Suffolk on 24 and 25 January to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
“Care leavers are a high priority for the local authority,” inspectors found noting that they “are helped to successfully transition to independence and to reach their potential”.
The council was praised over using its services to deliver support for care leavers in a “individual and responsive” way.
Inspectors urged the council to improve support for the emotional well-being and mental health of care leavers at all levels of need.
Read the report from the focused visit here.
Leicestershire County Council
Inspectors visited Leicestershire County Council on 26 and 27 January to look at the local authority’s arrangements for children in need and those subject to a child protection plan, including children receiving help and support from the disabled children’s service.
They found that a “committed, strong and focused senior leadership team has built on the progress seen at that last inspection” in September 2019 when services in Leicestershire were rated “requires improvement to be good”.
“Commitment and investment by political and corporate leaders, together with effective work by senior leaders and staff, have meant that responses to children in need of help and protection have improved,” the report states, however, the council is urged to improve the consistency in the quality of children’s plans.
Read the full report from the focused visit here.
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Inspectors visited Wirral children’s services on 25 and 26 January to look at the council's arrangements for planning and achieving permanence, with a particular focus on children at home on placement with parent regulations, children living with connected carers, and special guardianship orders.
They found that some progress had been made in these areas since its last full inspection in September 2019 when the council was rated “requires improvement to be good”, however, “further work is required to ensure that assessment and permanence planning is consistent for all children”.
Read the full report from the focused visit here.
Blackpool Borough Council
Inspectors visited Blackpool on 11 and 12 January 2022 to review the progress made at the ‘front door’, particularly around areas of concern identified at the last full inspection in 2018 when the council’s children’s services were rated “inadequate”.
In a letter sent to the council following the focused visit, Ofsted notes that “Blackpool continues to make steady progress”.
Inspectors praise the council’s “effective and well coordinated multi-agency response to vulnerable families, despite continued high levels of demand”.
The letter also highlights “timely” recognition and response to risk of harm to children.
“Caseloads have recently reduced and staff report that there is a supportive organisational culture,” it adds.
Read the most recent report here.
Hartlepool Borough Council
Inspectors visited Hartlepool on 18 and 19 January 2022 to look at the local authority’s arrangements for care leavers.
In its last full inspection by Ofsted, Hartlepool’s children’s services were rated ‘good’.
The experiences and progress of children in care and care leave under the care of the council was rated as “outstanding”.
Following its most recent visit, Ofsted notes that “despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, care leavers have continued to experience the same high-quality service as they did prior to the pandemic”.
Read the most recent report here.
Cornwall Council
At its last full inspection in 2019, Ofsted rated children’s services at Cornwall Council as “outstanding”.
Inspectors carried out a focused visit on 18 to 19 January 2022 to examine the local authority’s arrangements for planning and achieving permanence.
They found that Cornwall has “done well in maintaining the high standard of work in identifying permanent homes for children” despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Leaders have ensured that nearly all children have a permanence plan so that arrangements can be made to help them feel as secure as possible. Alongside this strategy are a wide range of creative, flexible and specialist services that provide effective support for children, families and carers,” a letter sent to the council following the inspection adds.
Read the most recent report here.
Slough Borough Council
Inspectors visited Slough on 18 January to look at the local authority’s arrangements for ‘front door’ services, including decision-making for contacts and referrals about children, child protection enquiries, decisions to step up or down from early help, and assessments for children in need.
Ofsted notes that since its last full inspection in 2019, when it was rated “requires improvement to be good”, there has been “significant change and challenge for the local authority”.
Independent children’s services company, Slough Children First, is now wholly owned by Slough Borough Council. It is led by one newly appointed joint chief executive and director of children’s services.
“Relationships between the council and children’s services have improved” since the council took over running Slough Children First, Ofsted says.
It also highlights that the council issued a section 114 notice in 2021, meaning no new expenditure is permitted within the council budget aside from spending on statutory services
Despite such challenges inspectors praise leaders’ understanding of the service but note that a shortage of social workers is “putting additional demands on staff which are not sustainable and slow the progression of work with children and families”.
Read the full report here.
Rutland County Council
Rutland County Council was rated “requires improvement to be good” by Ofsted in 2020.
A focused visit by inspectors on 19 and 20 January looked at the local authorities' arrangements for children in care.
Inspectors found that since its last full inspection, the council “has maintained a clear focus on protecting children and improving the quality of social work practice in Rutland”.
A letter to council leaders notes that “senior leaders know their services well and have focused effectively on an improvement plan despite the challenges of the pandemic”.
“As a result, experiences for children who are looked after have improved,” it adds.
Ofsted has urged Rutland to improve its recording and oversight of children who are in care.
Read the full report here.
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
Inspectors visited Hammersmith and Fulham Council on 19 and 20 January. In its last full inspection in 2019, the council’s children’s services were rated as “good”.
During their most recent visit, inspectors examined the council’s ‘front door’ services, including decision-making and thresholds for referrals about children, child protection enquiries, decisions to step up children’s social care or down to early help, and emergency action out of hours.
They praised “exemplary practice” by social workers noting that children in need of help and protection continue to receive highly effective ‘front door’ services that ensure they get the right help at the right time.”
Caseloads within the children assessment teams and for some newly qualified workers are too high, Ofsted says, but the council is “acting to address this”.
Read the full report here.
