Children's services in Peterborough downgraded to 'inadequate'
The most serious findings related to young people leaving care
Children's services in Peterborough have been downgraded to inadequate.
The City Council was given the rating after Ofsted inspectors visited in November.
The council was given a 'good' rating in June 2018 - but Ofsted says since then, there's been a “deterioration in the quality of practice”.
Peterborough City Council's director of children services says he's sorry they're not currently at the standard they should be.
The report said: “The new leadership team, led by an experienced director of children’s services (DCS), has quickly grasped the scale and nature of the improvement that is needed.”
“Since July, the leadership team has completed a robust and accurate self-evaluation, identified the crucial areas for improvement and begun to tackle these with appropriate prioritisation. This has included taking effective action to address the most pressing shortfalls identified by a focused visit to the integrated front door in March 2023.”
However, inspectors said ‘there remains much to do’.
The Ofsted report states that:
- The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families ‘Requires improvement to be good.’
- The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection ‘Requires improvement to be good.’
- The experiences and progress of children in care ‘Requires improvement to be good’
- The experiences and progress of care leavers is inadequate
- Overall effectiveness is inadequate
Peterborough’s director of children’s services John Gregg said his number one focus is on improving the life chances of all children in Peterborough and ensuring the most vulnerable are supported and protected.
He said: “I am sorry that children’s services in Peterborough are not currently at the standard they should be to ensure all children are receiving the support and care they so rightly deserve.”
“Since March our focus has been on putting robust plans in place to ensure every child who needs our support is getting it, at the right time and in the best way to support their needs.
“We are providing training and support to our social workers to help us make the right decisions at the right time.”