Here is a summary of the Ofsted inspections of children's services published in September
Ofsted finds steady progress in Somerset’s care leavers and disabled children’s services
Steady progress has been made in services for care leavers and disabled children in Somerset children’s services. However, the fourth monitoring visit since the local authority was judged inadequate in February 2015, stated that practice is not yet reliably good in all teams.
Recruitment and retention of social workers addressed at Cumbria
The long-standing difficulties of recruiting and retaining sufficient staff and managers at Cumbria children’s services have been “vigorously addressed”. A monitoring visit to the authority in August found that an improved offer for new and existing staff, combined with upskilling staff and managers, has led to a gradual reduction in the reliance on agency staff at the authority.
Bromley’s approach to CSE improves
The London Borough of Bromley is making substantive progress in improving services for children and young people at risk of sexual exploitation. The inspectorate also identified some progress for those who go missing in a fourth monitoring report of the local authority’s children’s services since it was rated inadequate.
Workforce stability needed at Leicester Council
Workforce stability and the recruitment of permanent social workers continue to be challenges at Leicester. While the council has made some progress in reducing changes in social workers for some children, such changes are still too common, which reduces children’s opportunity to build trust.
‘Exceptional’ CSE services highlighted in North Lincs Council
North Lincolnshire Council has been praised for its “exceptional” services protecting children from Child Sexual Exploitation. Ofsted said that children at risk of sexual exploitation and children who go missing receive excellent support through coordinated multi-agency arrangements.
Manageable caseloads contributes to improvements at Walsall
Smaller social work teams with manageable caseloads is making a difference to children’s services in Walsall. Senior leaders have worked intensely to improve the quality of children’s social care services and to ensure that children receive the help and protection that they need.
Ofsted rates Croydon child protection services inadequate in damning inspection report
The government has taken control of Croydon children’s services after Ofsted slammed the authority in a damning inspection report. Ofsted inspectors highlighted the “widespread and serious failures in the services provided to children and their families in Croydon that leave some children at risk of significant harm”.
