Local democracy

Agenda item

JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE IN CHILDREN'S SOCIAL CARE

To be moved by Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe

Seconded by Councillor Adrian Farley

 

Council believes that:

-       The welfare of the 4,000 children in our care is of utmost importance to us as councillors. It is the absolute right of our children to lead happy and fulfilled lives and the council should enable them to do so.

The Council therefore is sorry that Children’s Services were found wanting in the recent Ofsted inspection:

-          Ofsted held a full inspection of Children’s Services from Monday 17th until Friday 28th September 2018 under its new ‘ILACS’ (Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services) framework.

-          Ofsted’s judgements were as follows:

·         The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families – Requires improvement to be good

·         The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection – Inadequate

·         The experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers – Requires improvement to be good.

·         Overall effectiveness – Inadequate

-          Ofsted identified a number of key areas for improvement which are set out in the report. These include: the response to risk; prioritisation; social work practice and supervision; the response to children with specific vulnerabilities; and multi-agency child protection work.

-          Ofsted’s report found good practice in some areas which are set out in the report, such as in the council’s handling of child sexual exploitation.

-          Ofsted’s report also found that the council recognised and responded to a significant increase in demand for services across all areas and major challenges in the recruitment and retention of social workers, however these actions have not yet delivered the sustained improvements that are required.

We are extremely disappointed in the inspection judgement and we have acted quickly to initiate the improvement plan. Ofsted will monitor our progress regularly and we will be subject to a full re-inspection within two years. Key actions and milestones, as set out in the report to Executive on 4th December, include:

·         Ensure the voice of the child is at the heart of everything we do.

·         A full review of cases (1,700 files) has already been completed post-Ofsted at the request of the Leader and Portfolio Holder. The capacity of the quality assurance team has also been strengthened.

·         Establishment of the Children’s Social Care Improvement Board once membership and Terms of Reference are approved by both DfE/Ofsted and Executive.

·         Produce a draft Statement of Action for discussion at the Ofsted planning meeting.

·         Submit a full Statement of Action (Deadline for submission: 4th February 2019).

·         Support a monitoring visit (which will take place three months after our publication of inspection i.e. January). Quarterly monitoring will continue until we have an inspection and move into a different pathway (i.e. are requires improvement to be good or above)

This Council:

-          Tasks the Interim Strategic Director of Children’s Services to oversee rapid and sustainable improvement in children’s social care.

-          Tasks the Interim Strategic Director to provide quarterly updates to the Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

-          Tasks the Chief Executive to write to Government calling for a national pay scale for social workers which would benefit the sector and ultimately the children it supports.

-          Acknowledges the dedication and commitment of frontline social workers in the Bradford District. They are valued for the work they do and need to be well supported to carry out their roles effectively.

-          Will continue to make the case to Government for increased levels of funding for Children’s Social Care given significant rising demand and costs reflecting our children’s need.

 

Minutes:

A motion moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe, as set out in the resolution below, was carried.

 

Amendments moved by Councillor Davies and Councillor Ward were defeated.

 

Resolved –

 

Council believes that:

-       The welfare of the 4,000 children in our care is of utmost importance to us as councillors. It is the absolute right of our children to lead happy and fulfilled lives and the council should enable them to do so.

The Council therefore is sorry that Children’s Services were found wanting in the recent Ofsted inspection:

-          Ofsted held a full inspection of Children’s Services from Monday 17th until Friday 28th September 2018 under its new ‘ILACS’ (Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services) framework.

-          Ofsted’s judgements were as follows:

·         The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families – Requires improvement to be good

·         The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection – Inadequate

·         The experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers – Requires improvement to be good.

·         Overall effectiveness – Inadequate

-          Ofsted identified a number of key areas for improvement which are set out in the report. These include: the response to risk; prioritisation; social work practice and supervision; the response to children with specific vulnerabilities; and multi-agency child protection work.

-          Ofsted’s report found good practice in some areas which are set out in the report, such as in the council’s handling of child sexual exploitation.

-          Ofsted’s report also found that the council recognised and responded to a significant increase in demand for services across all areas and major challenges in the recruitment and retention of social workers, however these actions have not yet delivered the sustained improvements that are required.

We are extremely disappointed in the inspection judgement and we have acted quickly to initiate the improvement plan. Ofsted will monitor our progress regularly and we will be subject to a full re-inspection within two years. Key actions and milestones, as set out in the report to Executive on 4th December, include:

·         Ensure the voice of the child is at the heart of everything we do.

·         A full review of cases (1,700 files) has already been completed post-Ofsted at the request of the Leader and Portfolio Holder. The capacity of the quality assurance team has also been strengthened.

·         Establishment of the Children’s Social Care Improvement Board once membership and Terms of Reference are approved by both DfE/Ofsted and Executive.

·         Produce a draft Statement of Action for discussion at the Ofsted planning meeting.

·         Submit a full Statement of Action (Deadline for submission: 4th February 2019).

·         Support a monitoring visit (which will take place three months after our publication of inspection i.e. January). Quarterly monitoring will continue until we have an inspection and move into a different pathway (i.e. are requires improvement to be good or above)

This Council:

-          Tasks the Interim Strategic Director of Children’s Services to oversee rapid and sustainable improvement in children’s social care.

-          Tasks the Interim Strategic Director to provide quarterly updates to the Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

-          Tasks the Chief Executive to write to Government calling for a national pay scale for social workers which would benefit the sector and ultimately the children it supports.

-          Acknowledges the dedication and commitment of frontline social workers in the Bradford District. They are valued for the work they do and need to be well supported to carry out their roles effectively.

-          Will continue to make the case to Government for increased levels of funding for Children’s Social Care given significant rising demand and costs reflecting our children’s need.

ACTION:        Chief Executive/Strategic Director Children’s Services