Nottingham City Council says it will be employing eight more social workers as part of plans to improve its 'inadequate' children's services. The authority must urgently address its issues following a "disappointing" report from Ofsted.
Ofsted's most serious 'inadequate' rating came after an inspection between July 4 and July 22. It is lower than that of the previous inspection of the council's children's services in 2019, and the key issues highlighted included the authority needing a quicker response when children are first identified as being at-risk, as well as the need for greater support for people aged over 21 who leave care, more help for young people aged 16 and 17 who are homeless, and better monitoring of children who are absent from school.
Terry Galloway, who grew up in care himself and now seeks to campaign on behalf of children and young people in his position today, said he was "heartbroken" to hear they were being let down. He added there is "a long way to go".
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And during a meeting at Loxley House today (September 20), executive councillors were informed of the plans to address these problems. Cheryl Barnard, executive councillor for children and young people who represents Bulwell Forest, said: "We are currently updating our existing improvement plan to address the feedback and recommendations from Ofsted. Ofsted will undertake monitoring visits between now and our next full inspection
"Our self-inspection submitted prior to Ofsted reflected clarity of our understanding in the need to improve children's services and actions were entrained prior to inspection, and further action has been taken following inspection. The children at the heart of the improvement board will be chaired by an independent chair commissioned through the Department for Education, we are accelerating our change and improvement work within the multi-agency safeguarding, steps are being taken to increase the manager capacity, and recruiting an additional eight social workers.
"We have introduced a recruitment and retention package to stabilise our workforce. We are also bringing in training for managers and a package for our newly formed head of service group."
Corporate director for people at the council, Catherine Underwood, added: "Of course our children's services are some of the most important responsibilities in the council. The findings of this inspection are clearly disappointing, however we are very clear that we recognise and accept the findings and they will support us driving forwards as a service."
And the leader of the council, Councillor David Mellen, who represents Dales, insisted everyone at the authority had "parenting responsibilites for those who are in our care." He said: "Clearly it is good to seethe inspectors notice that element of good practice across our services and our good staff in that, but the overall grading is not something we are happy with, it is one that we want to improve.
"It is clear from our portfolio holder and director that that journey has already started and the commitment of the department is there." The council is expecting Ofsted's first visit in February or March next year and inspectors will visit three to four times a year thereafter.
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