Inspectors say North East Lincs children's services need to improve further
The latest inspection concluded there were still issues
The latest inspection on North East Lincolnshire's under pressure children's services department has revealed some progress but there are still concerns.
Inspectors concluded there were too many children in care often without a long term plan.
But it found all were now assigned a social worker with staff feeling optimistic about the future.
Previously services were rated "inadequate" and efforts are being made to try and turn them around.
Inspectors concluded: “There are still too many children in care whose permanence plans are unclear,” inspectors found.
"This means aims for how a child will be brought up in the long-term have not been clearly set."
Some children are still experiencing multiple changes of social worker
"Many children are subject to lengthy court proceedings because of a legacy of previous poor planning, legal delays, multiple social workers and lack of management direction."
"Decision delays have then impacted on children’s chances of permanent settlements."
"Some children are still experiencing multiple changes of social worker".
"Another concern raised is a lack of stable, experienced managers to ensure social work is consistently good quality."
The report notes, though, children’s services senior leadership is aware.
There are active plans to recruit managers and social workers as a priority, with strong political support.
Inspectors found there is more timely planning for children who have recently entered care, and those in recent care proceedings at court.
The number of children in care is higher than regional and national rates, but is falling
New senior leadership, including permanent director of children’s services Ann-Marie Matson, have set clear and ambitious targets for priority areas to improve.
Its self-assessment was also in line with inspectors’ findings.
A recent review of all children in care’s needs and plans also found cohorts who could safely live with parents, or remain in kinship arrangements with special guardian orders.
The number of children in care is higher than regional and national rates, but is falling.
“The majority of social workers that inspectors spoke to during this visit report positively about working in North East Lincolnshire and said that they feel supported to do their job,” states the report.
“They are tentatively optimistic about the future and the vision being created by the new senior leadership team.”
Recruiting new and experienced social workers is still a priority for us
A North East Lincolnshire Council spokesperson said the latest Ofsted visit evidenced its own evalutation of progress was accurate and it is continuing to move in the right direction.
“They have recognised the successful recruitment of a new, permanent leadership team, which strengthens our service and provides direction going forward.
“Clearly there is more work to do but we remain committed to improving the service and support that we offer our most vulnerable children and families.
It’s positive to see the inspectors recognising that our numbers of children in care are reducing in a safe way, and that more children are being returned to their families where safe to do so.
“Recruiting new and experienced social workers is still a priority for us, and will allow for the building of trusting relationships with young people and increased visits where required.
Our work is about sustainable, long-term change for the benefit of children and families in North East Lincolnshire, and we will continue to work closely with Ofsted, the Department for Education and our partners to achieve this.”