Stockport Council’s Children’s Services who were brought to help Tameside Council’s own children’s services out of special measures have themselves been downgraded to “needs improvement” in the latest inspection report by the regulator OFSTED
In the report published yesterday the regulator said that since the last inspection in March 2022, when services for children were judged to be good, there has been a continued rise in the demand for children’s services, including an increase in complexity.
Leaders they say were not sufficiently sighted on the impact this was having, leading to a deterioration in the quality and impact of support both for children who need help and protection and for those in care.
For some children, they added, there are delays in the screening of concerns in the multi-agency safeguarding and support hub (MASSH) and, for some children, there are delays in holding strategy discussions.
Most child in need and child protection plans are not sufficiently targeted on the underlying causes of parental behaviours that adversely affect children.
Although plans are regularly reviewed, there is insufficient focus on the impact of interventions for children said the inspectors
This means that there are delays in taking more assertive action for some children, including bringing children into care at the right time. Permanence is not secured soon enough for some children because of ineffective management direction and independent reviewing officer (IRO) challenge to help social workers drive planning for children in care
Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Children and Families, Cllr Teresa Smith said:
“We’re getting some fantastic support from the hand-picked team of expert individuals from our strategic improvement partner Stockport, who have made a strong start. The recent Commissioner’s report acknowledges that the establishment of joint Stockport/Tameside review teams has been a positive development, creating an inclusive environment and enhancing skills and review technique. This reflects what a positive relationship we have built here and our openness to develop and improve our ways of working.
“Following Stockport’s Ofsted rating we will continue with the support of the team that have already embedded well here in Tameside and I’m confident an updated arrangement, with new host organisation Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) having oversight and support, will enable us to continue to build on this.”
