Issue - meetings

Background:

This report provided details of the recent Ofsted inspection of children’s safeguarding and services for looked after children in Medway. The service was inspected by Ofsted over a four week period starting in September 2015 under a Single Inspection Framework (SIF) which incorporates safeguarding services, services for looked after children, care leavers and adoption services.

The report of the recent inspection was published on 27 November 2015 and found Medway Council’s Children’s Services “require improvement to be good”. The independent inspectors had stated in the report that there were “no widespread or serious failures that leave children being harmed or at risk of harm”.

It was noted that the Ofsted report included a set of recommendations which would support the Council in its aim to continue to improve services and become a good to outstanding Authority over the next two years.

Reasons:

To formally report the Ofsted findings to Cabinet.