Council welcomes Ofsted report on children in care services
Published: 9 August 2021
Council House
Derby City Council has welcomed the findings from Ofsted’s recent Focused Visit on Derby’s children in care services.
The two day Focused Visit inspection examined the quality of children in care services and outcomes in relation to the quality of matching, placement and decision making including the experiences and progress of disabled children in care; the quality of management oversight, challenge and staff supervision in these services and the effectiveness of corporate parenting and whether performance management information and quality assurance activities provide managers with an accurate view of social work practice to help senior leaders improve outcomes for children.
Ofsted found that
- Senior leaders in Derby have continued to provide effective oversight of services for children in care.
- Strong performance had been sustained in the areas focused upon.
- Most children are in placements which meet their needs and are supported by social workers who visit them regularly and understand their needs.
- When children come into care when this is the right decision for them and their needs are met.
The Council are pleased that Ofsted found there had been an effective response to COVID -19 and that staff received strong and effective support from senior leaders and frontline managers, which helped them to continue working with children. Children’s services were last inspected in March 2017 when overall effectiveness and services for children in care were judged to be good.
Andy Smith, the Strategic Director for People and Deputy Chief Executive said:
The many positive aspects reported by Ofsted is testimony to the commitment the whole service have had and continue to have towards delivering safe outcomes for the children in care. Inspectors agreed with our self-evaluation of practice and work has already started on addressing the areas for improvement.
Cllr Evonne Williams, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills said:
I am proud to have recognised by Ofsted that Derby has a strong Corporate Parenting strategy which has delivered positive outcomes. Children and young people are always at the heart of our work and members of our Children in Care Council told inspectors that the pandemic has had little impact upon the service they receive.