Portsmouth children’s services rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted

Portsmouth City Council’s children’s services have been rated Outstanding in all four areas following an inspection by Ofsted.

Inspectors found that children, care-experienced young people and families across the city benefit from high-quality support, strong relationships with staff and ambitious leadership.

The report highlighted the council’s ‘one-Council’ approach to supporting care-experienced young people, which brings together different teams to focus on the needs of those moving towards adulthood.

Ofsted said significant progress had been made through the approach, with young people benefiting from safe and suitable housing, education and employment opportunities, as well as practical support.

Inspectors also praised the relationships staff build with children, young people and their families.

Services were described as child-centred, with practitioners who know the children they work with well and provide timely and tailored support.

The work of personal advisers supporting care-experienced young people was also singled out for praise, with Ofsted describing “the palpable sense of care, attention to detail about young people’s lives and ambition for them” as “a distinctive, significant strength”.

The report also recognised the role children and care-experienced young people play in helping to shape services and influence decisions affecting their lives.

Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said: “This is a proud moment for Portsmouth. Everything we do starts with improving outcomes for children, young people and families, and Ofsted has recognised the exceptional difference that Portsmouth’s workforce, foster carers, schools and partners make every day, to ensure that every child is safe, valued and able to thrive.

“This outstanding achievement reflects the dedication, professionalism and compassion shown by our staff and partners every day and the outcomes of children, care experiences and families who receive timely, purposeful and bespoke help.

“We’re particularly pleased that Ofsted has recognised the difference our one-Council approach is making for care-experienced young people. By working together across services, we’re helping young people access safe housing, build strong support networks and achieve their ambitions.

“We’d like to thank the children and young people who shared their experiences with inspectors and continue to help shape our services.

“We’d also like to thank our staff, foster carers and partners for their continued commitment to improving the lives of children and young people in Portsmouth, helping every child thrive. This achievement belongs to all of them.

“We are overjoyed with this outcome and remain ambitious and committed to continual improvement.”

Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s National Director for Regulation and Social Care, said: “This outcome is testament to the hard work and tenacity of the leadership team past and present, managers and frontline staff, the wider council and safeguarding partners.”

The inspection also praised the council’s leadership, continued investment in children’s services and its workforce culture.

Ofsted found that staff feel valued and supported, helping to maintain a stable workforce and provide children, young people and families with greater consistency.

The full report is available on the Ofsted website Portsmouth City Council – Open – Find an Inspection Report – Ofsted.

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