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| More child services 'inadequate' | More child services 'inadequate' |
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| The number of children's services in England deemed inadequate at keeping children safe has doubled in one year. | The number of children's services in England deemed inadequate at keeping children safe has doubled in one year. |
| Ofsted, which came under fire over the death of Baby P, has published its annual assessments of 147 councils. | |
| Last year, four councils were found to be inadequate, but this year that rose to eight. Among them was Haringey, north London, where Baby P died. | |
| The number of councils which provide good or outstanding children's services has also fallen from 78% to 73%. | The number of councils which provide good or outstanding children's services has also fallen from 78% to 73%. |
| As well as Haringey, child protection was rated inadequate at Birmingham, Doncaster, Essex, Reading, Surrey, West Sussex and Wokingham councils. | |
| Ofsted's data also shows that the number of councils found to be inadequate overall on all children's services, not just child protection, has also risen from none last year to four this year. | Ofsted's data also shows that the number of councils found to be inadequate overall on all children's services, not just child protection, has also risen from none last year to four this year. |
| Those councils were Doncaster, Haringey, Milton Keynes and Surrey. | |
| In a statement, Ofsted said the increase in inadequate ratings was "a cause for concern". COUNCILS RATED INADEQUATE Doncaster CouncilHaringey CouncilMilton Keynes CouncilSurrey County Council | |
| Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "We see significant achievements across children's services and those involved in doing difficult work in complex circumstances can be pleased about their achievements. | Chief inspector Christine Gilbert said: "We see significant achievements across children's services and those involved in doing difficult work in complex circumstances can be pleased about their achievements. |
| "However, I am concerned that some services provided for the most vulnerable children and young people remain inadequate. | "However, I am concerned that some services provided for the most vulnerable children and young people remain inadequate. |
| "Where this has been found, we have clearly identified where improvements are needed. | |
| "We would expect those working in children's services to address these issues as an urgent priority with support from their local government office. | "We would expect those working in children's services to address these issues as an urgent priority with support from their local government office. |
| "We will be inspecting next year to ensure they make good progress." | "We will be inspecting next year to ensure they make good progress." |
| Three councils were rated outstanding for all children's services - Gateshead, Kensington and Chelsea, and York. | |
| 'Misleading' data | 'Misleading' data |
| Earlier this month, MPs called for Ofsted to review the way it inspects children's services. | Earlier this month, MPs called for Ofsted to review the way it inspects children's services. |
| The call came amid criticism that Ofsted inspectors had made "favourable" inspections of Haringey Council shortly after Baby P died. | |
| He suffered months of abuse while on the council's child protection register. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme | |
| A more thorough inspection this year revealed gross inadequacies in Haringey Council's child protection service. | A more thorough inspection this year revealed gross inadequacies in Haringey Council's child protection service. |
| During a question session with MPs, Ms Gilbert admitted the inspection in 2007 was misleading because, she argued, her inspectors had been misled by Haringey's data. | During a question session with MPs, Ms Gilbert admitted the inspection in 2007 was misleading because, she argued, her inspectors had been misled by Haringey's data. |
| Social workers' caseloads were heavier than had been reported and files were not closed as promptly as they should have been, she said. | |
| She told MPs she was writing to all council chief executives in England saying she expected them to vouch for the data their managers provided. | She told MPs she was writing to all council chief executives in England saying she expected them to vouch for the data their managers provided. |
| 'Hands-on inspection' | 'Hands-on inspection' |
| Ofsted said it would introduce a new inspection system from next year. | Ofsted said it would introduce a new inspection system from next year. |
| The so-called Comprehensive Area Assessment promises to "ensure a stronger focus on front-line practice, including annual unannounced inspection visits in every local authority". | The so-called Comprehensive Area Assessment promises to "ensure a stronger focus on front-line practice, including annual unannounced inspection visits in every local authority". |
| Ofsted said the changes would be part of a "three-year, more intensive programme of inspection", introducing much greater scrutiny of councils where there were concerns about child welfare.Christine Gilbert appeared before the select committee last week | |
| But despite these assurances, the Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee is still planning to investigate the inspectorate. | But despite these assurances, the Commons Children, Schools and Families Select Committee is still planning to investigate the inspectorate. |
| Speaking to the BBC, chairman Barry Sheerman accused Ms Gilbert of being "complacent" and rejecting "out of hand" the committee's suggestions for improving children services departments. | Speaking to the BBC, chairman Barry Sheerman accused Ms Gilbert of being "complacent" and rejecting "out of hand" the committee's suggestions for improving children services departments. |
| "I put it to herâ¦. why didn't she embed, immediately, an inspector in each of them so that there was actually a real human being there, looking people in the eye, going out with young social workers on their difficult visits," he said. | "I put it to herâ¦. why didn't she embed, immediately, an inspector in each of them so that there was actually a real human being there, looking people in the eye, going out with young social workers on their difficult visits," he said. |
| "Really embedding them so it wasn't a paper-based inspection - it was a hands-on, really integrated inspection." | "Really embedding them so it wasn't a paper-based inspection - it was a hands-on, really integrated inspection." |
| Mr Sheerman said the "strains" placed on inspectors were clear as they tried to juggle responsibility for monitoring schools, nurseries and child protection. | Mr Sheerman said the "strains" placed on inspectors were clear as they tried to juggle responsibility for monitoring schools, nurseries and child protection. |
| "I think very often they are taking the kind of inspection system that is probably alright, but not wonderful, for schools across to children's services and it doesn't work," he added. | "I think very often they are taking the kind of inspection system that is probably alright, but not wonderful, for schools across to children's services and it doesn't work," he added. |
| Ofsted inspected 150 councils, but three are still contesting their grades. |