The Isle of Wight council’s services for children in need has been rated “Good” following a robust inspection by Ofsted.
The report published today finds that most children and families on the Island continue to receive a good service, with some improvements to quality since the last inspection in 2018.
“Consistently good support and care”
During a five day inspection between 30th October and 3rd November, children in care were found to benefit from “consistently good support and care from committed and caring social workers and foster carers”.
When children and their families need help, social workers make sure that this happens early, and this often stops problems from getting bigger.
When there are worries about the safety of a child, decisions are made quickly so that children are protected.
Stable and consistent leadership
Inspectors said the strategic partnership with Hampshire County Council had brought about stable and consistent leadership, with senior leaders being resilient and adaptable to rapidly increasing demand for services.
With the partnership coming to an end next month, Ofsted’s team said leaders were focused on achieving a seamless transition. They were also praised for maintaining a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the service through challenging times, such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
Areas for improvement
While some area of practice have improved since the previous inspection, the report did find the experiences of children in need of help and protection were not as consistently strong as they once were.
This area will require improvement to be good, inspectors said.
However, they acknowledged the investment in and commitment to a wide variety of early help services which deliver the right support to families at an early stage, enabling them to make positive changes.
The report concludes that the Island’s unique challenges and opportunities have been used to create a service which improves the experiences and progress of most children and families.
Ashley: A welcome outcome for our most vulnerable children
Stuart Ashley, the council’s director of children’s services, said,
“This is a welcome outcome for our most vulnerable children on the Island and a positive reflection of the strong work of our practitioners and managers.
“As with any inspection there is clearly learning and improvements we must make, but I am delighted that the partnership with Hampshire County Council comes to an end on such a positive note.
“This also provides a solid foundation for the incoming director of children’s services, and I wish him and the service every success for the future.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
