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Child safety records scrutinised Child safety records scrutinised
(40 minutes later)
The annual report from children's services inspectorate Ofsted showed a handful of English local authorities had "inadequate" child protection.The annual report from children's services inspectorate Ofsted showed a handful of English local authorities had "inadequate" child protection.
Last year four authorities fell into this category: Hertfordshire, Salford, Stoke-on-Trent and Peterborough.Last year four authorities fell into this category: Hertfordshire, Salford, Stoke-on-Trent and Peterborough.
This year's round of inspections is currently underway and the councils have been defending their records. This year's round of inspections is currently under way and the councils have been defending their records.
To put them in context, Haringey - much criticised following the death of Baby P - had been rated "good".To put them in context, Haringey - much criticised following the death of Baby P - had been rated "good".
Ofsted's summary report on the 137 services inspected during 2007, out of a total of 150, found "a slightly less positive picture of councils' contribution to all aspects of the staying safe agenda".Ofsted's summary report on the 137 services inspected during 2007, out of a total of 150, found "a slightly less positive picture of councils' contribution to all aspects of the staying safe agenda".
The proportion judged outstanding in 2007 (9%) was smaller than in 2006 (16%), and the overall proportion judged to be good or better (70%) was also down (from 73%).The proportion judged outstanding in 2007 (9%) was smaller than in 2006 (16%), and the overall proportion judged to be good or better (70%) was also down (from 73%).
Four councils were inadequate, the same number as in 2006 - although only one featured in both years, it said. This was Stoke.Four councils were inadequate, the same number as in 2006 - although only one featured in both years, it said. This was Stoke.
ShortcomingsShortcomings
"There is evidence of strong inter-agency work leading to some improvements, but in too many council areas management systems to monitor performance and the quality of work lack consistency and rigour.""There is evidence of strong inter-agency work leading to some improvements, but in too many council areas management systems to monitor performance and the quality of work lack consistency and rigour."
Ofsted's annual performance assessments of children's services take place between September and November each year. The most recent findings are due to be published next month.Ofsted's annual performance assessments of children's services take place between September and November each year. The most recent findings are due to be published next month.
This year it has been using a proportional approach, deciding in advance whether actual visits to the authorities were necessary.This year it has been using a proportional approach, deciding in advance whether actual visits to the authorities were necessary.
The inspectorate's assessment of child protection takes in a range of factors.The inspectorate's assessment of child protection takes in a range of factors.
It defines as inadequate those services which "are having limited impact on improving outcomes for children and young people".It defines as inadequate those services which "are having limited impact on improving outcomes for children and young people".
This might involve a number of shortcomings:
  • Children do not feel safe and report that their concerns are not heeded
  • The incidence of child abuse and neglect of children on the child protection register is higher than in similar areas, while staff fail to identify or respond to children in need or at risk of significant harm
  • Assessments are not completed in timely ways, or fail to involve the child, the family or other professionals. Cases are closed inappropriately and there are unnecessary re-referrals and re-assessments
  • Not all children who are in the care of the local authority are looked after as they should be
  • People may be employed who are unsuitable to work with children
  • Serious case reviews and management reviews are inappropriate or ineffective
  • Relevant agency and inter-agency policies, procedures and standards are absent or inadequate
  • Workers are insufficiently trained
  • Safeguarding information, support and provision are insufficient or not accessible to children and their carers
  • Children's outcomes are notably poorer than in similar areas
This might involve a number of shortcomings:
  • Children do not feel safe and report that their concerns are not heeded
  • The incidence of child abuse and neglect of children on the child protection register is higher than in similar areas, while staff fail to identify or respond to children in need or at risk of significant harm
  • Assessments are not completed in timely ways, or fail to involve the child, the family or other professionals. Cases are closed inappropriately and there are unnecessary re-referrals and re-assessments
  • Not all children who are in the care of the local authority are looked after as they should be
  • People may be employed who are unsuitable to work with children
  • Serious case reviews and management reviews are inappropriate or ineffective
  • Relevant agency and inter-agency policies, procedures and standards are absent or inadequate
  • Workers are insufficiently trained
  • Safeguarding information, support and provision are insufficient or not accessible to children and their carers
  • Children's outcomes are notably poorer than in similar areas
The report last November on children's services in Hertfordshire, for example, concluded: "Comprehensive safeguarding plans across the local partnership are in place but key operational processes in the children's social care service to safeguard children are inadequate."The report last November on children's services in Hertfordshire, for example, concluded: "Comprehensive safeguarding plans across the local partnership are in place but key operational processes in the children's social care service to safeguard children are inadequate."
Hertfordshire has told BBC News that in this year's inspection it had moved up to the "adequate" category.Hertfordshire has told BBC News that in this year's inspection it had moved up to the "adequate" category.
More social workersMore social workers
The section on keeping children safe highlights among the major strengths, "The rapid pace of improvement in safeguarding children and young people" and the fact that all eight children's homes in the area were "good" or "outstanding".The section on keeping children safe highlights among the major strengths, "The rapid pace of improvement in safeguarding children and young people" and the fact that all eight children's homes in the area were "good" or "outstanding".
The assistant director of families and communities for Peterborough City Council, Maureen Phillips, said it had made substantial improvements since last year's Ofsted judgement.The assistant director of families and communities for Peterborough City Council, Maureen Phillips, said it had made substantial improvements since last year's Ofsted judgement.
"Essentially, the situation arose due to difficulties in recruiting qualified social workers. However, this is no longer the case as a result of the city council's substantial investment in recruitment and retention of qualified social workers," she said."Essentially, the situation arose due to difficulties in recruiting qualified social workers. However, this is no longer the case as a result of the city council's substantial investment in recruitment and retention of qualified social workers," she said.
"In addition to recruiting to previously vacant posts, an additional 19 front line social work posts have been filled."In addition to recruiting to previously vacant posts, an additional 19 front line social work posts have been filled.
"Improvements in the service have been endorsed in recent Ofsted inspections of the fostering and adoption services and Peterborough City Council is confident that the former judgement in this area no longer applies.""Improvements in the service have been endorsed in recent Ofsted inspections of the fostering and adoption services and Peterborough City Council is confident that the former judgement in this area no longer applies."
And Salford City Council's lead member for children's services, Cllr John Warmisham, said: "No-one who works in children's services is in any doubt about the importance of what they do and their responsibilities for our most vulnerable members of society.And Salford City Council's lead member for children's services, Cllr John Warmisham, said: "No-one who works in children's services is in any doubt about the importance of what they do and their responsibilities for our most vulnerable members of society.
"Even before the report was published, the city council was taking action to make improvements to its safeguarding service.""Even before the report was published, the city council was taking action to make improvements to its safeguarding service."
It was on track to meet the annual performance targets agreed with the Department for Children, Schools and Families.It was on track to meet the annual performance targets agreed with the Department for Children, Schools and Families.
The systems operate differently elsewhere in the UK.The systems operate differently elsewhere in the UK.
The Social Services Improvement Agency in Wales says new child protection procedures implemented there last April are being watched with interest by English authorities, which are considering ways to promote collaboration between neighbouring safeguarding children boards.The Social Services Improvement Agency in Wales says new child protection procedures implemented there last April are being watched with interest by English authorities, which are considering ways to promote collaboration between neighbouring safeguarding children boards.
The table below show the most recent published inspection findings for England. New reports are due next month.The table below show the most recent published inspection findings for England. New reports are due next month.

OFSTED ASSESSMENT: STAYING SAFE

OFSTED ASSESSMENT: STAYING SAFE

English local authorities' performance

English local authorities' performance

Local authority Grade Year 2007 unless otherwise stated Barking and Dagenham Good 2006 Barnet Good   Barnsley Good   Bath and NE Somerset Good   Bedfordshire Good 2006 Bexley Good   Birmingham Adequate   Blackburn with Darwen Good   Blackpool Good   Bolton Good   Bournemouth Good   Bracknell Forest Good   Bradford Good   Brent Good   Brighton and Hove Good   Bristol Adequate   Bromley Adequate   Buckinghamshire Adequate   Bury Good   Calderdale Good   Cambridgeshire Good 2006 Camden Good   Cheshire Good   Corporation of London Outstanding   Cornwall Adequate   Coventry Adequate   Croydon Good   Cumbria Good   Darlington Good   Derby Good   Derbyshire Good   Devon Adequate   Doncaster Adequate   Dorset Adequate   Dudley Good   Durham Good   Ealing Good 2006 East Riding of Yorkshire Good   East Sussex Good   Enfield Good   Essex Adequate   Gateshead Outstanding   Gloucestershire Adequate   Greenwich Good   Hackney Adequate   Halton Outstanding   Hammersmith and Fulham Adequate   Hampshire Good   Haringey Good   Harrow Adequate   Hartlepool Good   Havering Good   Herefordshire Adequate   Hertfordshire Inadequate   Hillingdon Good   Hounslow Good   Isle of Wight Adequate   Isles of Scilly Inadequate 2006 Islington Good   Kensington and Chelsea Outstanding   Kent Good   Kingston Upon Hull Good   Kingston-Upon-Thames Outstanding   Kirklees Good   Knowsley Adequate   Lambeth Good   Lancashire Good   Leeds Adequate   Leicester City Good   Leicestershire Good   Lewisham Adequate   Lincolnshire Good   Liverpool Good   Luton Good   Manchester Adequate   Medway Adequate   Merton Good 2006 Middlesbrough Good   Milton Keynes Adequate   Newcastle Upon Tyne Adequate   Newham Good   Norfolk Good   North East Lincolnshire Good 2006 North Lincolnshire Good   North Somerset Good   North Tyneside Good 2006 North Yorkshire Good   Northamptonshire Good   Northumberland Good   Nottingham Inadequate 2006 Nottinghamshire Adequate   Oldham Adequate   Oxfordshire Adequate   Peterborough Inadequate   Plymouth Adequate   Poole Good   Portsmouth Good   Reading Good   Redbridge Good   Redcar and Cleveland Good   Richmond-Upon-Thames Outstanding   Rochdale Good   Rotherham Good   Rutland Good   Salford Inadequate   Sandwell Adequate   Sefton Good   Sheffield Good   Shropshire Outstanding   Slough Good   Solihull Good   Somerset Good   South Gloucestershire Good   South Tyneside Good   Southampton Adequate   Southend-On-Sea Adequate   Southwark Good   St Helens Good   Staffordshire Good   Stockport Good   Stockton on Tees Outstanding   Stoke-on-Trent Inadequate   Suffolk Good   Sunderland Good 2006 Surrey Adequate   Sutton Good   Swindon Adequate   Tameside Good   Telford and Wrekin Good   Thurrock Adequate 2006 Torbay Good 2006 Tower Hamlets Outstanding   Trafford Good   Wakefield Adequate   Walsall Good   Waltham Forest Good   Wandsworth Outstanding   Warrington Good   Warwickshire Good   West Berkshire Good   West Sussex Adequate   Westminster Good   Wigan Adequate   Wiltshire Good   Windsor and Maidenhead Good   Wirral Adequate   Wokingham Adequate   Wolverhampton Adequate 2006 Worcestershire Outstanding   York Outstanding   Source: OfstedLocal authority Grade Year 2007 unless otherwise stated Barking and Dagenham Good 2006 Barnet Good   Barnsley Good   Bath and NE Somerset Good   Bedfordshire Good 2006 Bexley Good   Birmingham Adequate   Blackburn with Darwen Good   Blackpool Good   Bolton Good   Bournemouth Good   Bracknell Forest Good   Bradford Good   Brent Good   Brighton and Hove Good   Bristol Adequate   Bromley Adequate   Buckinghamshire Adequate   Bury Good   Calderdale Good   Cambridgeshire Good 2006 Camden Good   Cheshire Good   Corporation of London Outstanding   Cornwall Adequate   Coventry Adequate   Croydon Good   Cumbria Good   Darlington Good   Derby Good   Derbyshire Good   Devon Adequate   Doncaster Adequate   Dorset Adequate   Dudley Good   Durham Good   Ealing Good 2006 East Riding of Yorkshire Good   East Sussex Good   Enfield Good   Essex Adequate   Gateshead Outstanding   Gloucestershire Adequate   Greenwich Good   Hackney Adequate   Halton Outstanding   Hammersmith and Fulham Adequate   Hampshire Good   Haringey Good   Harrow Adequate   Hartlepool Good   Havering Good   Herefordshire Adequate   Hertfordshire Inadequate   Hillingdon Good   Hounslow Good   Isle of Wight Adequate   Isles of Scilly Inadequate 2006 Islington Good   Kensington and Chelsea Outstanding   Kent Good   Kingston Upon Hull Good   Kingston-Upon-Thames Outstanding   Kirklees Good   Knowsley Adequate   Lambeth Good   Lancashire Good   Leeds Adequate   Leicester City Good   Leicestershire Good   Lewisham Adequate   Lincolnshire Good   Liverpool Good   Luton Good   Manchester Adequate   Medway Adequate   Merton Good 2006 Middlesbrough Good   Milton Keynes Adequate   Newcastle Upon Tyne Adequate   Newham Good   Norfolk Good   North East Lincolnshire Good 2006 North Lincolnshire Good   North Somerset Good   North Tyneside Good 2006 North Yorkshire Good   Northamptonshire Good   Northumberland Good   Nottingham Inadequate 2006 Nottinghamshire Adequate   Oldham Adequate   Oxfordshire Adequate   Peterborough Inadequate   Plymouth Adequate   Poole Good   Portsmouth Good   Reading Good   Redbridge Good   Redcar and Cleveland Good   Richmond-Upon-Thames Outstanding   Rochdale Good   Rotherham Good   Rutland Good   Salford Inadequate   Sandwell Adequate   Sefton Good   Sheffield Good   Shropshire Outstanding   Slough Good   Solihull Good   Somerset Good   South Gloucestershire Good   South Tyneside Good   Southampton Adequate   Southend-On-Sea Adequate   Southwark Good   St Helens Good   Staffordshire Good   Stockport Good   Stockton on Tees Outstanding   Stoke-on-Trent Inadequate   Suffolk Good   Sunderland Good 2006 Surrey Adequate   Sutton Good   Swindon Adequate   Tameside Good   Telford and Wrekin Good   Thurrock Adequate 2006 Torbay Good 2006 Tower Hamlets Outstanding   Trafford Good   Wakefield Adequate   Walsall Good   Waltham Forest Good   Wandsworth Outstanding   Warrington Good   Warwickshire Good   West Berkshire Good   West Sussex Adequate   Westminster Good   Wigan Adequate   Wiltshire Good   Windsor and Maidenhead Good   Wirral Adequate   Wokingham Adequate   Wolverhampton Adequate 2006 Worcestershire Outstanding   York Outstanding   Source: Ofsted