Ofsted highlights “steady and positive” progress in Children's Services

The recognition came in a letter published this week following Ofsted’s latest visit to the authority in May.

It is the second time inspectors have visited the Council since the Children’s Services department was judged to be ‘inadequate’ last summer.

In the letter, inspectors reported: “Progress has been made in the areas of practice reviewed at this visit since the ILACS inspection in July 2023.

“The family safeguarding model has become more embedded, and adult services workers have been recruited and trained in the model. This enables a joint approach, working alongside children’s social workers and practitioners to address safeguarding risks in child-in-need and child protection planning.”

Although Ofsted points out that some inconsistencies remain in the quality of social work practice, inspectors acknowledged that increased management oversight is starting to have some impact on planning for children.

The inspection letter adds: “The senior leadership team has a clear understanding of where improvement is needed and what needs to change.

“Leaders are aware of the need to implement change at a pace quickly enough to make improvements for children and which allows such changes to become embedded in practice, allowing the workforce to engage positively in such a transformation.”

Swindon’s Children’s Services is subject to a statutory Improvement notice which sets out what it must do and who it is to work with to ensure improvement in the areas identified by Ofsted following its inspection in July.

Following the inspection, the Council has continued to build on its existing transformation plan to ensure that it fully captures the recommendations contained within the Ofsted report.

The actions outlined in the plan will, with partner agencies, ensure that children, young people and their families in Swindon benefit from high quality services leading to good outcomes for all.

The plan also focuses on managing demand for services and reducing the reliance on expensive care placements.

The Council has already taken steps to ensure its ‘front door’ is safe so that families get the right support at the right time, from the local authority and its partners.

Work to recruit committed, permanent social workers and managers has continued to improve outcomes for children and young people, while there has been a drive to recruit more foster carers in Swindon so children have the chance to maintain their family networks, friendships, and links to their wider communities.

A Children’s Services Improvement Board, is also meeting regularly and is being overseen by an independent chair and tasked with providing effective governance, oversight and challenge of the improvement plan and programme of work. This will ensure that all the recommendations outlined in the Ofsted report are responded to and the plan improves outcomes for children and young people in Swindon.

Councillor Paul Dixon, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “I want to thank our colleagues in Children’s Services who are working incredibly hard to improve the lives of the children and families who need us. Their relentless commitment is driving positive change and we’re really beginning to see the impact of that.

“While we are making progress, we know there is still a long way to go and much work to do but it is important we build on this positive recognition of the work we are doing as we continue our improvement journey.”

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “It is heartening to see that Ofsted has recognised the progress that is being made across Children’s Services as we strive to improve outcomes for children and families in Swindon.

“I am really pleased staff, working with our partners, are beginning to see their hard work pay off and our job now is to build on what we have done so far and embed it into our practices so we see sustained improvements in the services we provide.”

A copy of the monitoring visit letter can be found on Ofsted’s website.