Ofsted praises Leicester Council over ‘robust support’ for children

Children’s services at the council are now rated as “good” by the inspectorate following an inspection between 20 September and 1 October.

Services were previously rated “requires improvement to be good” in 2017 and “inadequate” in 2015.

• Inspections Clinic: Return of Ofsted visits Q&A

• Opinion: We must do more to support adolescents at risk

A report by inspectors states that despite Leicester being “significantly affected” by Covid-19 and dealing with very high rates of infection, the council “continued to provide a robust level of support for all children known to children’s social care, including ongoing face-to-face visits, to ensure that they were safe and protected and their welfare was being promoted”.

The council is also described as “knowing itself well” and delivering timely help and protection services which are “well focused on addressing risk and promoting the welfare of the most vulnerable children”.

Inspectors also note “strong support” given to families using early intervention services and those involved with family court proceedings.

Highlighting areas in which the council needs to improve, the report adds that “in a small number of children’s cases, however, the quality of social work practice, management decision-making or recording is not to as high a standard as that delivered to the vast majority of children and families”.

It also called on children’s services leaders to improve the coordination of support for children in private foster care arrangements and the sufficiency of placements and support provided for over-16s.

The consistency of children’s social care records and case file auditing could also be improved, it states.

Responding to the report, Leicester’s deputy city mayor for social care and anti-poverty, Sarah Russell, said she was “immensely proud” and praised the “tremendous amount of hard work” by staff.

“We’ve focused on improvements that we will be able to maintain, long-term, as we constantly strive to advance the service we offer to some of our most vulnerable citizens.

“This has paid off, as inspectors have found that despite all the challenges of a global pandemic, our services are robust.

“We know there is more work still to do, but I’m delighted that the dedication of our staff has been recognised with this result. It is children and families who will benefit from it,” she said.