Joint area review

Joint area review Report for children and young people in the City of Westminster

p.1

Report for children and young people about the services they receive in the City of Westminster City of Westminster children and young people’s report 1

p.1

Why should I read this?

The law says that inspectors must look at and then report on how well local services serve children and young people in an area. This is called a “review”. Inspectors visited your area recently. You might like to read this, or the full report which you can find on Ofsted’s website, to find out what they had to say.

p.2

What did the inspectors do?

Ten inspectors visited the City of Westminster in April and May 2007 so that they could get a feel of what life is like for children and young people in the area. They:

p.2

What did the inspectors do?

™ met and listened to a number of children and young people ™ talked with adults working with children and young people (such as social workers, teachers, youth workers, nurses, doctors, police officers and councillors) ™ spoke to parents and other people caring for children ™ met with school councils’ representatives and members of the Youth Parliament ™ heard from the council and other agencies what it thinks about the services it provides for children ™ read a lot of reports; and ™ visited a number of neighbourhoods in the area.

p.2

What did the inspectors do?

The inspectors looked at how well services for children and young people kept them safe as well as looking at specific services for children who are being looked after by the local authority and those for children and young people with a learning difficulty or disability. They also looked at the services provided for children and young people who have problems with their mental health, the support provided for young people who misuse substances and the ways in which secondary schools are helped to improve the chances of their pupils doing well.

p.2

Westminster?

The council and its partners are working well together to make sure that children and young people live in a safe and healthy environment and are well cared for. City of Westminster children and young people’s report 2

p.2

the council in the City of Westminster?

Children who are being looked after are very well cared for. They get good support to keep them healthy and to help them to do well at school.

p.3

learning difficulty and/or a disability in the City of Westminster?

Local services work well together to help children and young people who have a learning difficulty and/or a disability to do well in life. More needs to be done, though, to provide a better range of opportunities for them to gain qualifications, continue with their studies or get a job after leaving school.

p.3

have problems with their mental health?

Local services work extremely well together to provide children and young people who have mental health needs and help them to make a success of their lives.

p.3

substances?

Specialist services help to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people who are at risk through taking drink or drugs.

p.3

How well are secondary schools being helped to improve?

The council and its partners have put a lot of effort into helping secondary schools to improve. Many good initiatives are helping young people to achieve better and improve their examination results. However, the council, secondary schools and other partners are aware that boys do far less well than girls in some secondary schools.

p.3

How well are local services led and managed?

The council and its partners are working extremely well together to improve the lives of all children and young people in the City of Westminster. City of Westminster children and young people’s report 3

p.3

Things that need doing straight away

Find good ways of telling children and young people in the area about this report.

p.4

Things that need doing straight away

Make sure that better records are kept of the steps taken to check staff who work with children and young people.

p.4

Things that need doing over the next six months

Make arrangements to provide more housing for vulnerable families within the City of Westminster.

p.4

Things that need doing over the next six months

Provide better guidance and information about how and when a child or young person needs to be given particular kinds of social care.

p.4

Things that need doing over the next six months

Continue to help secondary schools to improve and to provide a better range of opportunities for young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

p.4

Things that need doing over the next six months

Find ways of measuring how well drugs and health education is helping to improve the welfare and well-being of children and young people.

p.4