Efforts continue in improving East Riding childrens' services
Social workers at East Riding Council have said tackling the “stigma” of intervening in families remains challenging as efforts continue to improve its childrens’ services following an inadequate Ofsted rating.
Social workers at East Riding Council have said tackling the “stigma” of intervening in families remains challenging as efforts continue to improve its childrens’ services following an inadequate Ofsted rating.
East Riding Council’s Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee heard keeping staff on and recruiting new social workers was also needed to maintain a grip on case loads.
Children support and safeguarding services lead Penny Donno told the committee agency workers leaving caused a “significant” drop in case assessments being completed to 59 per cent in November.
She added December saw recovery and new figures showed 30 per cent of social workers were responsible for more than 20 children compared to 60 per cent late last year.
Councillors heard agency staff leaving in November resulted in cases they were handling being passed on to staff who remained.
The committee also heard a recruitment drive was underway for more social workers, with existing staff going into local colleges as well as working with the University of Hull.
Councillors also heard from two social workers who spoke of their “shock” at receiving an inadequate Ofsted rating following an inspection in December 2019.
Ofsted ruled the council’s then EHaSH system had been left “creaking” under thousands of referrals.
Social worker Dean Grainger said staff realised there was “no getting away” from inspectors’ findings but added they were still taken aback after working to the best of their abilities.
Mr Grainger also said he had been inspired to enter the profession after having social workers as a child and benefiting from it personally.
Whitney Mell, said the “stigma” from families who had social workers such as herself intervene for their children also posed difficulties.
She said:
“We have to get rid of the idea that having a social worker intervening in a family is a negative thing.”
Ms Donno said there would be no “quick wins” in improving services although there were signs changes were beginning to impact and Ofsted were “content” with the direction of travel.
But she added there was a “revolving door” in some instances where teams believed work on a child’s case was over only for them to be referred back with similar issues.
Mr Grainger said he felt things were getting better after staff had taken a step back to reflect on Ofsted’s findings.
He said:
“I can see that we’re making decisions about children more quickly and we’re making the right ones at the right time.
“We’re heading towards having good services and better than good in some cases.”
Ms Donno said:
“There was an overwhelming of the service’s front door before and that meant the system was reacting to that rather than being proactive.
“I would like to say that we know ourselves better now, we have a work force that is committed to change.
“But some elements of practice and the thinking and attitudes around them take longer to change, we’re in it for the long term.”