Councillors welcome report on ‘life changing’ children’s social care

Councillors have welcomed a report on Children’s Services in East Sussex.

On Tuesday (November 11), East Sussex County Council’s cabinet considered a report from the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted).

The regulator had looked at the local authority’s arrangements for children in need and child protection planning, as part of a focused inspection in July.

Ofsted does not publish a grading for such inspections, but instead sets out key findings in writing. In this case, the majority of these findings were positive, seeing inspectors praise the way the council runs this aspect of the service.

In a letter, an Ofsted inspecto said: “Children in need in East Sussex, and those who are the subject of a child protection plan, are receiving services that make a positive difference for them and whose effectiveness is being continually developed.

“The senior leadership team, with strong corporate support, continues to invest in services for vulnerable children. Leaders have continuously developed and refined services to ensure they have a positive impact on children’s lives.

“There is a strong focus on providing integrated, multidisciplinary support to children and families. This approach ensures that children and families benefit from consistent, high-quality practice that supports their progress and improves their lives.

“There is relentless focus on supporting a stable and committed workforce, enabling staff to develop their skills and feel valued within the council. Leaders are actively creating the right conditions to strengthen social work practice and improve the quality of services for children and families.”

The letter goes on to highlight one area for potential improvement. This is related to the “timeliness” in which child protection strategy meetings are held, with the inspector noting how a “small number of children experience delays”.

But the letter also says the council consistently prioritised the holding of such meetings when “risks are urgent”.

The inspector added: “Once held, child protection strategy meetings are attended by the relevant professionals, who appropriately consider the level of risk and the impact on the children involved. There is timely progression to child protection conferences when required.”

Ofsted’s findings were welcomed by Cllr Bob Bowdler (Con), the council’s lead member for children and families.

Cllr Bowdler said: “This Ofsted inspection report, together with the accompanying letter, is a testament to the positive life-changing difference our people and service are achieving for our children and families.”

He added: “We can justly be proud of this report and congratulate our staff at all levels and the department as a whole for the professionalism they display within this challenging field of social work.”

A similar view was shared by Liberal Democrat councillor Kathryn Field, who said: “I am constantly in awe of the work the staff on this authority do with the vulnerable children who we look after who are sadly within our county boundaries. 

“This really does highlight the importance of the work we do, not just for children but for all our residents, the vulnerable and those who really do need support. One of our real fears … has to be how we can continue this level of excellence on diminishing means.”