Issue - meetings

Performance & Outcomes for Families & Children’s Services

 

 

Meeting: 10/09/2019 - Children's Select Committee (Item 72)

72 Ofsted Inspection of Local Authority Children's Services (ILACS)

Between 3rd June and 19th June 2019 Wiltshire Council received an inspection of its Children’s Social Care Services from Ofsted.

 

Attached is the report of the Lead Inspector, Steve Lowe. The report details the inspector’s grades against the four judgement categories.

 

The committee are asked to provide any comments and ask any questions to the report and its content.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman reported that between 3rd  and 19th June 2019 Wiltshire Council received an inspection of its Children’s Social Care Services from Ofsted.

 

The Committee received the report of the Lead Inspector, Steve Lowe, which detailed the inspector’s grades against the four judgement categories as follows:-

 

The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families

 

Good

 

The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection

 

Good

The experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers

 

Good

Overall Effectiveness

Good

 

The Chairman and members of the Committee congratulated the officers on achieving a good grading but it was recognised that there was always room for improvement. It was explained that key headlines for improvement were:-

 

·    Raising awareness of private fostering in the local community.

·    The impact of services on children’s health and education when they are in care.

·    The clarity and accuracy of children’s records when they are in care.

·    The availability of suitable placements when children first come into care.

·    The quality of social work supervision.

 

Members were pleased to note that Wiltshire Council was the only local authority in the South West to achieve a Good rating in all areas and it was anticipated that the DfE would be asking Wiltshire to help with some improvement work throughout the Region.

 

During discussion, some concern was expressed at delays which occurred in children accessing the Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).  It was suggested that the CAMHS Task Group be asked to investigate waiting times in accessing this Service and the Chairman offered to take this matter up with Cllr Phil Alford, the Task Group Chairman.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)      To note the report from Ofsted detailing their inspection of Wiltshire Council’s Children’s Social Care Services.

 

(2)      To congratulate the Children’s Services Team on the outcomes.

 

(3)      To hold a pre-meeting briefing on the Ofsted self-assessment process immediately prior to the start of the next meeting on 12 November 2019.