Swindon makes progress in care leavers' services
Swindon children's services has made some progress for care leavers' services in most of the areas for improvement highlighted in the last inspection, Ofsted has said.
Senior leaders have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in the service, supported by the increasingly effective use of management and performance information, the focused visit to Swindon [...]
Medway's response to referrals improves
Processes to support social work practice, new at the time of the previous visit, have been embedded and strengthened. In most cases, children and their families now receive a timely and proportionate response to their needs, the focused visit to Medway local authority children’s services found.
"Senior leaders know the service well," said the report. [...]
Special Report: Sector warns about future of childrens services funding
Concerns about the future of childrens services funding ramped up a gear this month when leading charities warned that thousands of children are being put at risk due to cuts while a separate survey found that one in four councils are planning to reduce their spending activity in children's services.
Five of the largest children's charities [...]
Central Bedfordshire challenged themselves to improve
Central Bedfordshire has used the last Ofsted inspection in 2017 as a catalyst to drive improvement, the latest inspection has found.
Senior leaders have remained open to external scrutiny, challenging themselves and remaining focused on doing the best for their children and young people, the focused visit to Central Bedfordshire Council children’s services found.
"Children see [...]
Ofsted reports in February
A summary of the Ofsted reports of children's services, published in February.
Increased caseloads hinder progress at Durham
The pace of change at Durham children’s services has been hindered since the last inspection in 2016.
High staff turnover and increased demand for services have resulted in increased caseloads which, coupled with an outdated electronic system, has hindered [...]
Only a fraction of gang members known to children's services
There are an estimated 27,000 children in England who identify as a gang members, yet only a fraction of whom are known to children’s services, the children's commissioner for England has warned.
While some of these children may only identify loosely with a gang and may not be involved in crime or serious violence, worryingly there [...]
