Agenda item

[Report of the Director for Children’s Services . To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families.]

Following the inspection of Haringey Children's Services in November 2018, Cabinet is asked to receive the inspection report together with the Local Authority's action plan.

The draft action plan, Appendix 2, for submission to Ofsted is marked to  follow.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families introduced the report which reported on the Children’s Service Ofsted inspection undertaken in October under IMAX framework. Ofsted had reported their findings in December 2018 and the Cabinet Member emphasised that these findings were in line with the Council’s own self-assessment of the service and it was important to acknowledge this. It was important for the Council to know the areas of strength and areas of improvement in the service. These had also been recognised by Ofsted.

Inspectors particularly praised the Council for their work in Bruce Grove Youth centre. It was also pleasing to note that Children’s Services staff were described as ‘tenacious’ and ‘dedicated’. 

The Cabinet noted that the Action Plan demonstrated that the Council were transparent about the direction of the service and there would be an annual report to Cabinet, updating Members on the progress of the Children’s service as well as updates considered by the Children’s Scrutiny Panel and Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee.

The Cabinet Member concluded, by underlining her dedication to ensuring that there was continued high quality support, at the right time and right way,for all children in the borough. It was further vital that all children were able to access services and to be safe and to thrive.

In response to questions from Cllr Ogiehor, the following was noted.

• The Early Help strategy had not been submitted to Ofsted as it was currently being finalised. The Council wanted to complete some further work on early help services, recognising that prevention and intervention was a key area. The Director for Children’s services added that the strategy was due for completion in the summer. Due to the necessary wider engagement, the service were not yet fixing a date for completion at this point.

• The Action Plan before Cabinet was a draft outline and the more detailed operational focussed action plan would respond to all the issues raised in the Ofsted report. These issues would be met though the actions delivered in the action plan. This detailed plan would be monitored internally by the Children’s improvement board.

• The Council were committed to getting a ‘good’ rating for the service and would be focussing on putting in place the actions required, in as sustainable way as possible. Ofsted will be keeping in touch on an annual basis. The Council would not know if they have achieved a ‘good’ rating until the next Ofsted inspection. The Cabinet Member was confident that the Council would make progress  which achieving this rating.

• The Director for Children’s Services added that the attached Action Plan focussed on 9 specific areas that Ofsted had highlighted in their report . Of course, arrangements were in place to address the other areas in the operational version of this plan.

RESOLVED

1. To note the findings and outcome of the Ofsted Inspection of Children’s Social Care Services, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1;

2. To approve the plans in place set out in paragraph 4.7 of the report to address the findings of the inspection and further improve services and outcomes for children who are in need of help and protection, in care and for care leavers in the Borough; and
   
   
3. To approve the draft action plan attached as Appendix 2 for submission to Ofsted.