This just in from the council. Ed
Safeguarding and looked after children services on the Island have been found to be adequate by inspectors.
The joint report by the Quality Care Commission and Ofsted follows a two-week visit by inspectors in September and an earlier unannounced inspection visit in June.
Adequate rating
The finding of ‘adequate’ means that inspectors believe young people on the Island are being kept safe by the authorities responsible for safeguarding.
While the inspection report found the service on the Island is adequate overall, one element covering equality and diversity was found to be good.
Will act on recommendations
Both the IW Council and the NHS Isle of Wight said all recommendations for improvements made by inspectors would be acted upon. The finding of adequate gave the organisations a platform from which to continue to improve the standards of the service, both said.
Early intervention praised
Among areas singled out for praise by inspectors were aspects of the partnership working that exists on the Island, preventative and early intervention services and initiatives that have led to a reduction in the number of reports of bullying at school.
Inspectors also noted that young people found the Children in Care Council gave them an effective means of expressing views.
The two main areas requiring immediate improvement, inspectors found, were the need to improve the timeliness of child protection reviews and the requirement to review and implement a business plan to improve the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Colin Peak, IW Council director of children’s services, said: “The report highlights both strengths and weaknesses but I am very pleased that the Inspectors acknowledged that we ourselves have identified areas most in need of attention and that we are taking the necessary steps to improve those.”
One such step was the recent drive to recruit social workers that has now reduced the number of vacancies from an August figure of 17 down to five. Inspectors found this approach ‘pragmatic and well-conceived.’
“The effects of these new social workers will be felt throughout the service and that stands us in good stead for continuing improvement,” Mr Peak said.
Cllr Dawn Cousins, IW Council cabinet member for children’s services said: “This area is one that has not been without its challenges in the past few years. From that perspective this overall result is to be welcomed in that it does give us a real base from which to continue our improvement.
“However our children and young people deserve not just adequate services but the very best. It is now down to all of us to work together and to bring about the required improvements in all areas as quickly as we can. The council’s positive decision to undertake a recruitment drive and to increase the salary bands for child social workers will help us greatly in this.
“I am committed to see the improvements being delivered and I look forward to working with partners and our dedicated staff to ensure that the safeguarding of our children is seen as an Island wide priority.”
Carol Alstrom, Chief Nurse and Executive Director with responsibility for safeguarding issues said: “We have recognised the challenges in providing a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) for the Island and we have a business plan in place to address these issues. We are working with the Council to develop a more comprehensive CAMHS with an increased emphasis on early intervention and more preventative work, including the training of school staff, parents and carers.”
Image: Wonderlane under CC BY 2.0
