The children’s services department at Swindon Borough Council has been seriously criticised by government inspectors.
The council’s latest rating from Ofsted says the department is Inadequate, the lowest of four possible ratings, in four of five categories.
And it requires improvement in the fifth.
The report will come as a blow to the council which saw the department rated Good in 2019 after it recovered from a report in 2018 saying things had got worse after a report in 2014 which said it required improvement.
The report, after a two-week inspection in July rates the department as inadequate for: The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families; the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection; The experiences and progress of children in care and overall effectiveness.
The experience and progress of those leaving the council’s care is rated slightly better but still requires improvement to be good.
The opening few sentences of the report pull few punches.
It says: “Since Ofsted’s last inspection in 2019, there has been a significant deterioration in the quality and impact of services for children in Swindon.
“There are pockets of strong practice, notably with disabled children, those on the edge of care, those who are privately fostered and by the virtual school. However, too many children are left with unassessed needs and risks and plans that drift, and they experience too many changes of social worker.
“Children are not matched with permanent carers quickly enough.”
There is one glimmer of light for the council.
The report says there are signs of a very recent improvement: “The new corporate director of children’s services has recently led a more rigorous and accurate appraisal of the quality of service provision.
“With the backing of corporate and political leaders, this has led to work to strengthen services. While this is positive, these developments are largely very recent and had not, at the time of this inspection, had a significant impact.”
But a lot of the report makes alarming reading, saying children in Swindon’s care may not be safe: “Most children in Swindon who need help or protection do not receive sufficiently effective or timely support.
“Some children are left in situations where they are at risk of harm or, for a few, suffer harm that could have been avoided.”
“The needs of vulnerable children have not been at the centre of corporate planning in Swindon.”
The inspectors list six points that need rapid improvement: more accurate assessment of the needs of a child; consistency of social workers so children can build up trust; a better range of foster and children’s homes; more rapid matching of children to permanent carers; better record keeping and use of such information to serve children and better and more consistent application of thresholds for intervention.
Leader of the council Councillor Jim Robbins said: “Ensuring children and young people across Swindon get the best possible care and support is one of the most critical responsibilities of this council.
“Ofsted’s judgement confirms the significant work ahead of us to get services to where they need to be. At the time of the inspection, Ofsted was able to review the improvement plan already in place and the work that is underway to strengthen services.
“Accelerating these improvements must now be the council’s highest priority.”
Chief executive at Euclid Street Sam Mowbray added: “We fully accept the findings from Ofsted and are clear on the improvement journey ahead which is already in progress.
“The inspectors recognised the existing improvement plan in place but it is our job now to ensure this translates as quickly as possible into a consistent standard of care and support being provided to children and young people across Swindon.”
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