Ofsted praises council's 'outstanding' children's services leadership

Inspectors rated the leadership, management and governance of the London Borough of Camden's children's services - as well as its adoption services - as "outstanding" and overall handed the service a "good" rating.

Camden is one of four authorities whose single inspection framework (SIF) judgment is published today.

Ofsted also handed overall ratings of "good" to Shropshire and South Tyneside councils. Meanwhile, Poole Borough Council's children's services were rated "requires improvement".

Camden's inspection report praised the focus among managers and leaders on building partnerships between children's services, schools and health organisations was particularly praised by the inspectorate.

This helps early targeting of families in need of support, which is reducing the need for children to be taken into care, inspectors found.

It is also leading to effective protection of victims of child sexual exploitation and those at risk of youth violence and gang affiliation.

Ofsted found a strong focus on staff training, ensuring caseloads are manageable and helping social workers to have time for reflection.

"Leaders and managers in Camden think deeply and creatively about how to continually improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable children and families while ensuring effectively that children at risk are safeguarded," the inspection report states.

"They do this through thoughtful, highly evolved strategic partnerships that lead to effective and innovative integrated services."

Inspectors found there is a "sense of urgency in its adoption work" which recognises the need to identify children where adoption is appropriate at the earliest opportunity.

"A clear understanding of children's need for timely permanence is embedded in service provision," adds the report.

South Tyneside's adoption support has also been rated "outstanding". Over the last 12 months there have been 26 adoptions in the area, with inspectors praising detailed preparations undertaken before children live with their adoptive families.

"Children are benefiting from permanence plans at the earliest opportunity. The service matches and supports children and families effectively. Life-story work is creative and beautifully presented for each child, helping them to understand their life journey," inspectors state in their inspection report.

Child protection work, leadership, looked-after children support and care leavers services at South Tyneside were all rated "good".

In Shropshire inspectors welcomed improvements to support for victims of child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse since its last inspection of child protection services in 2012.

But while praising social workers' relationship with children as being "creative and effective" inspectors found areas were social work needs to improve.

They want to see assessments and records offering greater detail and updated more regularly. Their inspection report also raises concerns that bed and breakfast accommodation is being used "inappropriately" for some homeless 16- and 17-year-olds.

During their inspection of children's services in Poole, Ofsted found that a new electronic casework system, a restructuring of early help services and development of a multi-agency safeguarding hub were leading to effective support for some children.

However, they found that support was inconsistent, particularly from its out-of-house service.

"In a small number of cases, unacceptable responses left children in vulnerable situations for too long," states Ofsted's inspection report.