Wiltshire's Child Protection slammed
An Ofsted inspection of Wiltshire Council's safeguarding and looked after children services has graded the provision as "inadequate". This is the worst possible outcome in Ofstedspeak, and means that the service does not meet even the bare minimum of requirements. Ofsted had little confidence in the council's ability to put things right, grading capacity for improvement as 'adequate' - the second worst grade.
The inspection, which took place in March, looked at the contribution made by the council to ensure that children and young people are properly safeguarded, and at and the quality of service provision for looked after children and care leavers.
The inspection team had discussions with children and young people receiving services, as well as parents and carers. They also spoke to front line staff, managers, elected members and a range of front line professionals, managers and senior staff from NHS Wiltshire, Wiltshire Police and voluntary sector organisations.
They reviewed 92 case files for children and young people with a range of needs. This gave a view of services provided and the quality of reporting, recording and decision making.
At the time of the inspection 405 children and young people were looked after by WC and 198 care leavers were being supported. 152 Wiltshire children had child protection provision.
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The safeguarding services' overall effectiveness was graded as 'inadequate'. Capacity for improvement was graded as 'adequate'.
The overall effectiveness of looked after children services was graded as 'adequate'. Capacity for improvement was graded as 'good'.
For looked after children outcomes on enjoying and achieving and economic well being have been graded as good and the positive contribution of looked after children has been graded as outstanding.
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Inspector's findings
The inspection found statutory requirements were not met consistently and that there were significant failings in the contribution made by WC and partner agencies to child protection work.
The inspectors stated that the level of robustness of managerial oversight and decision-making needed to improve to ensure that the risk to a child or young person is minimised.
For some children and young people child protection procedures had not been followed in accordance with statutory guidance, resulting in them not being subject to a child protection plan when they should have been.
Within health agencies and adult services there is a lack of appropriate levels of safeguarding supervision and training for a wide range of staff who have direct contact with children, young people and families.
Areas highlighted as positive
The inspectors reported that as soon as the issues were raised WC took immediate action to ensure the children and young people identified were re-assessed and appropriately protected.
They also noted that wider safeguarding provision was effective and in a number of instances there was evidence of good or outstanding practice. This included the multi-agency work delivered through children's centres, the work in schools by the safeguarding in education lead officer, the transformation of the short breaks service for children with disabilities and the emotional and well-being support provided to service children by the army welfare service.
There was evidence that interventions are child focused, and the views of children and young people are listened to and acted upon. Front line workers are committed to doing the best they can for the child or young person they are working with and want to ensure children and young people are appropriately safeguarded.
The views of children and young people contribute significantly to service development. The Wiltshire Assembly of Youth and the children and young people issues groups are very effective in influencing service planning and making a difference. The active Wiltshire Parent Carer Council has been successful in helping to change and develop service provision for children and young people who have learning difficulties and/or are disabled.
Children and young people who met with inspectors reported that they felt safe at school and in their localities describing Wiltshire as 'a safe place to live'. They know where to get help and advice and whom they would choose to confide in if they had any safeguarding concerns. They reported that the rare incidents of bullying are dealt with effectively in their school where staff, school nurses and peer mentors had provided reliable sources of support.
WC has taken robust action to improve school attendance and to reduce school exclusions. Persistent absence rates have fallen to below the national average for primary schools and are now in line with the national average for secondary schools. Collaboration between the council and schools has seen the overall number of days lost to exclusions in secondary schools drop significantly.
For looked after children who are in care the outcomes are adequate or better. These children receive good support and economic well-being which helps them enjoy life and achieve better outcomes. The engagement of looked after children, young people and care leavers in making a positive contribution is outstanding.
WC has already produced a detailed improvement plan in recognition of the failures highlighted in child protection services. The improvement plan is prioritised and fully resourced and a comprehensive audit of all children who are on the threshold of risk and/or subject to child protection is being undertaken to ensure they are being protected from serious harm.
Independent social workers have been employed to review cases where children might be at risk. Over 400 cases have been reviewed and follow up action has been taken where needed.
Additional managers with experience of improving social work practice have been recruited, and work is underway with the police and health service to review and improve the way child protection cases are investigated. A multi-agency Safeguarding Improvement Board will be responsible for monitoring progress and overseeing the delivery and evidence of improvement.
In a joint statement Director of Children's Services Carolyn Godfrey, Council Leader Jane Scott, and the responsible cabinet member Lionel Grundy, said: "We fully accept that the outcome is not good enough. The swift response to take action demonstrates how seriously we take this feedback and how we are working with other agencies to ensure that this risk of harm is minimised for Wiltshire's children and young people. Our main priority is to safeguard children and young people and minimise the risk of them being subject to harm. All of the key agencies are in agreement that we must deliver the actions necessary to ensure that Wiltshire children and young people are protected."
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Ofsted inspection judgements are made using the following four point scale.
Outstanding (Grade 1) A service that significantly exceeds minimum requirements
Good (Grade 2) A service that exceeds minimum requirements
Adequate (Grade 3) A service that only meets minimum requirements
Inadequate (Grade 4) A service that does not meet minimum Requirements
At the time of the inspection 405 children and young people were looked after by Wiltshire Council - 102 children under the age of five, 272 children of school age (5-16) and 31 aged 17.
Wiltshire Council has not published the report on its website at www.wiltshire.gov.uk
However it can be viewed as a pdf at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/local-authorities/wiltshire Look for the report dated 24th Aril 2012
Cllr Grundy will not resign.