Just under a month ago, we were visited by Ofsted inspectors who conducted the annual unannounced inspection of our children's services contact, referral and assessment arrangements.
On Wednesday 27 July, the letter detailing the official outcomes of the inspection is to be published on the Ofsted website.|
Ofsted have identified a number of areas that meet and even exceed the requirements of statutory guidance. The inspectors found no evidence to suggest that individual children are unsafe.
The inspectors also identified an area for 'priority action' (an area of practice than needs our immediate attention and improvement). The concern they had was with the First Response Service - not with the concept of a central team being the first point of contact for anyone with a child protection concern, but with the current processes and systems that underpin the service.
In response to the inspection feedback, we've already completed an independent review of the service and we've got a detailed action plan in place to improve the way the service works. Progress against this action plan is being closely monitored by Eric Robinson (Deputy Chief Executive and Director of People), Nick Bell (Chief Executive) as well as Mike Lawrence (Cabinet Member for Children's Wellbeing) and Philip Atkins (Leader of the county council).
If you'd like more information on the inspection outcomes and what we're doing to address them, please read the attached briefing note.
Unannounced inspection results - Briefing note| (559kb)