Following Ofsted’s Inspection of Children’s Social Care Services from the 17th to 28th September 2018, the first of a series of Monitoring Visits took place on the 6th and 7th March 2019.

The focus of the Monitoring Visit was on the Front Door looking at contacts and referrals, child protection enquiries, step-up from and step-down to early help and no further action/sign-posting.

The findings will be available from 29th March 2019.  This is the only Monitoring Visit letter that will not be published by Ofsted.

The report of the Interim Strategic Director (Document “BH”) provides a summary of the findings.  Appendix 1 to Document “BH” (Ofsted Report of Monitoring Visit – 6^th and 7^th March 2019) is Not For Publication as it contains confidential information as defined by section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Government restriction.  The letter was given to the Local Authority by Ofsted upon terms which forbid the disclosure of the letter to the public until after 29 March 2019.

Recommended -

The Committee is asked to note the contents of Document “BH”.

(Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee)

                                    (Gladys Rhodes-White 01274 431266)

Following Ofsted’s Inspection of Children’s Social Care Services from the 17th to 28th September 2018, the first of a series of Monitoring Visits took place on the 6th and 7th March 2019.

The focus of the Monitoring Visit was on the Front Door looking at contacts and referrals, child protection enquiries, step-up from and step-down to early help and no further action/sign-posting.

The findings were available from 29th March 2019.  This was the only Monitoring Visit letter that will not be published by Ofsted.

The report of the Interim Strategic Director (Document “BH”) provided a summary of the findings.  Appendix 1 to Document “BH” (Ofsted Report of Monitoring Visit – 6^th and 7^th March 2019) was Not For Publication as it contained confidential information as defined by section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 – Government restriction.  The letter was given to the Local Authority by Ofsted upon terms which forbad the disclosure of the letter to the public until after 29 March 2019.

The Interim Strategic Director of Children’s Services advised members that verbal feedback had been received.  This had indicated that in all cases that were looked at, there were no instances where children were not being properly safeguarded.  She added that most areas were showing positive progress and that the inspectors were impressed with the co-location of the early help gateway.  It was noted that real progress had been demonstrated and that this was a positive start to the improvement journey and monitoring visits.

The Leader thanked the Interim Strategic Director and her team for bringing the authority to its current position.

The Children and Families Portfolio Holder noted that the authority had taken the decision to publish the Ofsted report of the monitoring visit and that it would be reported to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  He thanked officers for the progress that had been made.  He highlighted that Ofsted had indicated that the authority was starting to make positive progress from a very low base in improving the services and response that children and families receive when requests for services are first made.

The Interim Strategic Director advised members of the action that had been taken to address the delays in assessing the needs of young people who present as homeless.  She reported that responsibility for 16-18 year old homeless young people had been moved into the front door MASH which offered a more holistic and timely response from a multi agency team.  She added that with immediate effect, all staff engaged with 16-18 year old homeless young people would explain that they had the right to become a looked after child and continue to offer this if at first they did not see it as  a positive option.

The Leader noted that his was the beginning of an improvement journey.  She reported that a new Strategic Director of Children’s Services had been appointed and thanked the Interim Strategic Director for her support in recruiting her successor.  It was noted that reports on future monitoring visits would be reported to the Executive and the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  She welcomed the external evaluation provided by OFSTED.

Resolved -

The that the contents of Document “BH” be noted.

ACTION:        Interim Strategic Director of Children’s Services

(Children’s Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee)