Other · Ofsted report
Setting
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- Inspectorssingle source
Steve Briggs
- Postcode verified
B91 9QU
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Strengths
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Concerns
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- Where children are identified who may be at risk of significant harm a prompt inter-agency strategy discussion takes place to agree an appropriate initial investigation plan. p.2
- The Local Safeguarding Children Board provides a good range of training programmes including learning from serious case reviews. p.2
Next steps
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- Immediate assessments were undertaken once the referrals were made and the problem of the initial delay has been addressed. p.3
- Capacity to respond across the range of work is only achieved by significant additional hours being worked by individuals. p.3
- Arrangements to publicise the changed referral criteria are not yet in place. p.3
- Any areas for development identified above will be specifically considered in any future inspection of services to safeguard children within your area. p.3
- Copy: Mark Rogers, Chief Executive, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of Solihull Safeguarding Children Board Cllr Norman Davies, Lead Member for Children’s Services, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Andrew Spencer, Department for Education p.3
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Anatomy of the report
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- Pages
- 3
- Words of findings
- 839
- shorter than usual (typical 1049)
- Reading level
- Very hard
- Flesch 23, typical 45
- Average sentence
- 22 words
- Next steps
- 5
- typical 5
- Hedged sentences
- 11%
- “some”, “not always”, “most”…
Where the words go
Full report text
Ms Lesley Heale Director for People Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council PO Box 20 Council House Solihull West Midlands B91 9QU
p.1
services
This letter summarises the findings of the recent unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements within local authority children’s services in Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council which was conducted on 10 and 11 August 2010. The inspection was carried out under section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. It will contribute to the annual review of the performance of the authority’s children’s services, for which Ofsted will award a rating later in the year. I would like to thank all of the staff we met for their assistance in undertaking this inspection.
p.1
services
The inspection sampled the quality and effectiveness of contact, referral and assessment arrangements and their impact on minimising any child abuse and neglect. Inspectors considered a range of evidence, including: electronic case records; supervision files and notes; observation of social workers and senior practitioners undertaking referral and assessment duties; and other information provided by staff and managers. Inspectors also spoke to a range of staff including managers, social workers, other practitioners and administrative staff.
p.1
services
The inspection identified areas of strength and satisfactory practice, with some areas for development.
p.1
services
From the evidence gathered, the following features of the service were identified:
p.1
Strengths
The Local Safeguarding Children Board provides strong leadership to improve inter-agency safeguarding practice and has agreed appropriate thresholds for Freshford House Redcliffe Way Bristol BS1 6NL T 0300 1231231 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 9456333 Direct F 0117 9456554 Safeguarding.lookedafterchildren@ofsted.gov.uk referral to the duty, assessment and referral teams.
p.1
Strengths
Staff are regularly and actively involved in consultation and feel engaged in making improvements to the service.
p.2
Strengths
Internal evaluation of the referral and assessment process has been undertaken by the management team. Better ways of working are significantly improving ability to monitor the timeliness and quality of the service.
p.2
Strengths
Social workers value the good quality induction, accessible and relevant training and development opportunities. This has a positive impact on staff recruitment and retention.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
The process for managing incoming contacts and decision making is satisfactory in most cases.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
The Local Safeguarding Children Board provides a good range of training programmes including learning from serious case reviews.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
The quality of analysis in initial and core assessments is adequate. Positive elements are that the views of children, parents and carers are taken into account, that assessments reflect the needs of a culturally diverse community, and that a suitable format for reporting core assessments helps service users to understand the findings.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
The emergency duty team makes prompt and suitable interventions that are passed on appropriately to the relevant daytime service to follow up any concerns.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
Where children are identified who may be at risk of significant harm a prompt inter-agency strategy discussion takes place to agree an appropriate initial investigation plan.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
All child protection cases are allocated to suitably qualified and experienced social workers.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
Initial child protection case conferences are convened in a timely way in most cases, and involve appropriate participants. Parents and carers are encouraged and enabled to contribute.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
Core assessments appropriately inform initial child protection case conferences about risk and protective factors to guide decision making to safeguard children.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
Staff value the access to informal and formal support, guidance, and supervision on a regular basis. The currently effective but resource intensive process of managing suspected or actual domestic abuse cases is being further evaluated in partnership with the police and health service, to provide a more efficient local and regional response.
p.2
Satisfactory practice
Active steps are being taken to provide better quality management information from the client record systems, providing managers with a more accessible and helpful analysis of the quality and timeliness of casework.
p.3
Areas for development
In two cases seen by inspectors, Accident and Emergency services in local hospitals delayed informing the council about injuries to children, thereby compromising the effective and timely investigation of concerns. Immediate assessments were undertaken once the referrals were made and the problem of the initial delay has been addressed.
p.3
Areas for development
A high number of cases are held by some social workers. Capacity to respond across the range of work is only achieved by significant additional hours being worked by individuals.
p.3
Areas for development
Initial assessments take too long to complete in nearly half of the total number of cases.
p.3
Areas for development
The number of interim managerial arrangements and temporary posts affects the sustainability of day-to-day operations and the improvement process.
p.3
Areas for development
The council has recognised that thresholds for a children’s social care assessment have been unnecessarily restrictive and are discussing revised procedures with relevant stakeholders. Arrangements to publicise the changed referral criteria are not yet in place.
p.3
Areas for development
Any areas for development identified above will be specifically considered in any future inspection of services to safeguard children within your area.
p.3
Her Majesty’s Inspector
Copy: Mark Rogers, Chief Executive, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, and Chair of Solihull Safeguarding Children Board Cllr Norman Davies, Lead Member for Children’s Services, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Andrew Spencer, Department for Education
p.3
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