Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided the Cabinet with an update on Looked after Children’s Services and considered progress made against the findings from the July 2013 Ofsted looked after children inspection.

The outcome of the Ofsted inspection was that the looked after children’s services was rated as ‘inadequate’, although the inspection judgement around ‘capacity to improve’ was rated as ‘adequate’; reflecting the positive progress made since the earlier inspection of safeguarding services. Medway had a formal Improvement Notice from the Department of Education (DfE) and has an established Improvement Board with an Independent Chairman.

It was noted that the Chairman of the Improvement Board had written a progress report to the Minister for Children in October 2013 and the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services and senior officers had met with the DfE Improvement Team during a visit to Medway in November 2013. It was reported that both the contents of the report and feedback following the visit concluded that whilst signs of positive change and developments were at an early stage, improvements were picking up pace and the focus on children, quality of the work and management and leadership was improving. The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services also referred to a recent letter from

Edward Timpson MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families that acknowledged the improvements taking place in Medway.

The report detailed areas of progress, which included areas requiring continued improvement and greater focus.

Reasons:

To inform the Cabinet of the arrangements that are being implemented to secure urgent and sustainable service improvements.