Two London boroughs have received a record third consecutive “outstanding” Ofsted rating for their children’s services.
Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster, who deliver the service jointly, are the first councils in the country to achieve the highest rating three times in a row over ten years of inspections.
In a report, published on Monday, inspectors praised the town halls for a particularly strong response in helping those at threat of exploitation, with interventions “reducing risk for the vast majority of children”.
Leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, Elizabeth Campbell, said: “Ten years of outstanding is not only a national first, it sets a new standard for this council.
“Life is more challenging than ever for young people growing up in London. It feels like every week there’s another tragic headline of a young life lost or ruined by crime.
“It is against this backdrop that our tremendous teams work tirelessly to give young people the best possible start in life, even when the odds seem stacked against them.”
Councillor Catherine Faulks, lead member for family and children’s services, added: “To be graded as outstanding on three consecutive inspections is unprecedented and is a reassuring third party perspective on the work we do here to prioritise children’s safety and give young people the best possible start in life.”
Front-line worker Bijal Shah said: “When you get a message from a young person, they reach out to you to say ‘thank you for that help’, or ‘Happy Christmas’ or ‘Happy New Year’, it makes you feel you’re really making a difference, which is what it’s all about. I’m so proud to have been part of this inspection and a part of this team.”
It comes as Tower Hamlets council also achieved the top Ofsted rating for its children’s services after they were deemed “inadequate” in 2017.
The report, published on Monday, found that staff in the borough “are ambitious for children, encouraging them to reach their full potential”.
Lutfur Rahman, executive Mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “This achievement is a testament to the compassion and hard work of our staff, who go above and beyond every day to support children and families in our community.”
