Concerns have not been addressed at Wigan
Issues and concerns about the quality, impact and effectiveness of assessments and plans, identified at the time of the last inspection of Wigan children's services in February 2017, have not been fully resolved, Ofsted has warned.
Needs and risks are identified appropriately, and inspectors did not find any evidence of children being left at immediate and [...]
Torbay continues to struggle recruiting social workers
Torbay children's services continues to struggle recruiting sufficient social workers in the safeguarding and family support service, Ofsted has warned.
Due to the serious and widespread child protection concerns identified in the January 2019 monitoring visit, inspectors revisited and evaluated the quality of help and protection provided to vulnerable children and their families in safeguarding assessment [...]
Local authorities funding for UASC increases
More funding has been made available to local authorities to support unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
Immigration minister Caroline Nokes announced that, following a review of existing funding arrangements, rates currently paid at £71, £91 and £95 should be uplifted to £114 per UASC per night from 1 April 2019 onwards.
"Home Office funding for local authorities supporting [...]
Staff turnover hinders improvement at Reading
Frequent changes in senior managers at Reading and a high turnover of frontline staff continue to adversely impact on managers’ ability to bring about improvement, said Ofsted.
The eighth monitoring visit since the local authority was judged inadequate in June 2016 said that a new interim director of children’s services has been in post since the [...]
Senior leaders ambitious for children in Rutland
The director of children's services at Rutland and his senior leadership team are ambitious for children in the borough, Ofsted has said.
In a focused visit to Rutland, inspectors said senior management has a realistic understanding of service strengths and areas that still require improvement.
"The local authority has a permanent, stable and motivated workforce. Responses to [...]
Social workers supported well at Richmond
Social workers are supported and supervised regularly at Richmond upon Thames children's services, Ofsted said.
In a focused visit of the authority which looked at the local authority’s arrangements for children who need help and protection, inspectors found referral routes into the single point of access (SPA) and the MASH are well established and effective, as [...]
