WARRINGTON Borough Council’s children’s services have recently received an overall ‘good’ Ofsted rating, with two of the four judgement areas being considered ‘outstanding’.
Inspectors found the few shortfalls identified at the previous inspection in 2019 have been robustly addressed.
Warrington’s children’s services have come a long way since 2009, when Ofsted identified the service as ‘inadequate’ and then in 2015 as ‘requires improvement’.
Deputy Leader of Warrington Borough Council and cabinet member for children, families and education, Cllr Jean Flaherty, said: “I am immensely proud of this recent Ofsted inspection report.
“It is a testament to the commitment across the children’s services workforce and their partners, to do their collective best for the children of Warrington.
“The report gives us a very firm foundation to build upon. We know there are always areas we can improve – we certainly won’t be resting on our laurels – but the report is validation that what we are doing for our children in Warrington is good – and in some cases outstanding.
“Our social workers and wider staff who support vulnerable children are truly unsung heroes, who deserve sincere thanks and celebration for the work they do. On a daily basis, they are supporting children, keeping families together and providing vital guidance to some of our most vulnerable residents. It is a privilege to see the work they do and the impact they continue to have.”
Following a formal Ofsted inspection of children’s services from 10 to 14 June 2024, the report, published today, judges:
• The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families – outstanding
• The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection – good
• The experiences and progress of children in care – outstanding
• The experiences and progress of young people who have left care – good
The overall judgement was therefore ‘good’.
Each child is considered individually
The Ofsted report notes that children in Warrington benefit from “effective services that provide them with help and support”. It also highlights that the council considers each child individually, and social worker visits to children are regular and meaningful.
Importantly, the report notes that when children experience high levels of neglect, the council’s Families First team provides intensive, tailored support. Children who are homeless also receive a timely and effective support response.
Elsewhere, in circumstances where children are close to going into care, known as “edge of care”, they are supported to remain with their families when it is safe to do so.
Outstanding support for children in care
Making sure that children in care receive the best possible support is a priority for the council. The Ofsted report states that many children in care in Warrington live in stable foster placements. These placements support children to thrive and give them a sense of belonging.
Importantly, the report also notes that the council listens to children and is seen to act on their feedback. Further, the report says that “children in care are supported and visited regularly by social workers who know them well.” Social workers are determined to build and sustain relationships with children.
Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are also well supported. Social workers are sensitive to the experiences of these children and the trauma that they have suffered.
Good support for children leaving care
Children who are leaving (or have left) care are known as care leavers. The Ofsted report notes that care leavers in Warrington benefit from good support, from a “highly committed and enthusiastic” workforce.
The report acknowledges that “the majority of young people live in suitable accommodation.” Care leavers told inspectors that most of them like their homes and feel safe.
Outstanding leadership
The Ofsted report makes clear that children’s services leaders have remained determined and ambitious. They have continued to ensure that services “provide high-quality support for vulnerable children”. Leaders have also “successfully addressed all areas of practice identified as needing improvement”.
Equally, the report acknowledges the leadership role that the council plays across partners, to collectively support more children in care, and care leavers, to have their voices heard.
The inspection did find some shortcomings.
Not all care leavers in custody benefit from regular visits and support from PAs. When they reach 21 years, the decision to end PA involvement is not informed by an updated assessment or the young person’s wishes. Senior leaders have been responsive during the inspection. They have accepted the shortfall in practice and have initiated immediate changes to seek to ensure that these
young people in future receive a better service.
Until recently, many PA caseloads were too high, meaning good support to care leavers could only be provided through excessive working hours. Leaders have addressed this by securing additional investment in the PA workforce, leading to a reduction in workloads.
Inspectors also found that Senior leaders embrace scrutiny and challenge from external partners. Learning is shared through individual supervision and quarterly performance assurance
reports. There is clear evidence of quality assurance activity impacting directly on children’s experiences. For example, through auditing it was established that fathers and absent parents were not consistently engaged in assessments. In response, senior leaders took effective action in providing the workforce with pertinent training and practice guidance. Children’s records now demonstrate that social workers increasingly consider this area of practice as part of their interventions.
A full copy of the report can be read by CLICKING HERE
