Reduced caseloads net council 'good' Ofsted rating

An inspection of provision at York City Council, which took place in November and December, found that a restructure of children services that began in September focused on ensuring social workers have "small and manageable caseloads" so that they can spend more time with children.

The inspectors also welcomed the council's efforts to ensure looked-after children are placed locally, with the majority cared for by local foster carers. They also noted that the number of children placed out of the city is continuing to fall.

Adoption provision was found to be strong, with a good success rate in securing "foster to adopt" arrangements, which offer a permanent home to children where there is still a chance they can be reunited with their birth family.

The council's commitment to the government's Staying Put strategy, whereby looked-after children can stay with their foster carer until they are 21, was another aspect of work praised by inspectors.

This strategy is now seen as "the first choice for young people leaving care", with planning starting when they reach their 16th birthday, the report states.

Inspectors also found that the majority of care leavers (87 per cent) live in suitable accommodation and are given the option to experience independence in a taster flat for four weeks.

The inspection also looked at the work of the local safeguarding children board, which was graded as "outstanding" for building "strong and highly effective" partnerships across the city.

The board's "explicit focus on understanding the perspectives of children and young people" particularly impressed the inspection team.

Meanwhile, the "It's not OK" campaign, managed by the board to raise awareness and deliver training around child sexual exploitation, was also praised by Ofsted.

"Most importantly, it has encouraged children to speak out about their worries and concerns," the report said.

Despite the praise the inspectorate said that there were some aspects of child protection services that require improvement.

This includes ensuring robust risk assessments that account for whole family histories are carried out in all cases. Inspectors also want to see an improvement in the quality and timeliness of children's assessments and resulting plans.

York council's director of children's services, Jon Stonehouse, said: "At a time of great challenge for children's social care services across the country, this inspection rating is a significant achievement.

"It is testament to the skill and commitment of children's social workers, social care staff, their managers and a highly effective local partnership.

"While we are delighted with the outcome of this very testing inspection we will also be paying close attention also to those areas where we know we have more to do."