Setting

Ms P Dunipace Chair of Lambeth Safeguarding Children Board and Executive Director, Children and Young People’s Service London Borough of Lambeth 7 th Floor International House 6 Canterbury Crescent London SW9 7QE

p.1

children’s services

This letter contains the findings of the recent unannounced inspection of children’s services in the London Borough of Lambeth council on 11 and 12 August 2009. The inspection was carried out under section 138 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006. It will contribute to Ofsted’s annual review of the performance of the authority’s children’s services, for which Ofsted will award a rating later in the year.

p.1

children’s services

The inspection identified no areas for priority action but some areas for development which are detailed below.

p.1

children’s services

The inspection sampled the quality and effectiveness of contact, referral and assessment arrangements and their impact on minimising the incidence of 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. I am grateful to you and your staff for your help and the time given during this inspection.

p.1

children’s services

From the evidence gathered, the inspection identified a number of areas where the contact, referral and assessment arrangements were delivered satisfactorily in accordance with national guidance, in particular:

p.1

children’s services

ƒ Effective action is taken to protect children from harm. Decisions relating to referrals to children’s social care services are made in accordance with statutory timescales. Freshford House Redcliffe Way Bristol BS1 6NL T 08456 40 40 40 enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk www.ofsted.gov.uk Direct T 0117 9456448 Direct F 0117 9456554 lac.safeguarding@ofsted.gov.uk ƒ Record keeping is generally up to date and most cases, sampled by inspectors, demonstrated effective case management.

p.1

children’s services

ƒ Child protection enquiries are thorough, timely and carried out by a suitably experienced and qualified social worker.

p.2

children’s services

ƒ Social care staff, including newly qualified social workers, are supervised and supported well. Clear social care practice standards underpin operational practice and are provided in writing to all social workers. Their performance against the standards is regularly monitored through supervision.

p.2

children’s services

From the evidence gathered, the following strengths and areas for development were also identified:

p.2

Strengths

ƒ Thresholds for children’s social care services are well established and used appropriately. They are complemented by widespread use of the common assessment framework and a multi-agency ‘team around the child’ approach. The development and combination of these services contribute to the good quality of assessments and service provision to children and families. ƒ Arrangements for transferring cases between social work teams are effective and efficient. A majority of cases are transferred in a timely manner and at an appropriate point within the casework plan. This results in children, young people and carers having less changes of social worker. ƒ In most cases sampled, children, young people and their carers are actively involved in the assessment process. There is clear evidence of their wishes being taken into account resulting in appropriate children in need and child protection plans. ƒ The rigour and volume of casework auditing is good. Local Safeguarding

p.2

Strengths

Children Board and senior and middle managers carry out a wide range of audits of casework practice. Outcomes from these audits are shared with staff, translated into action plans, and used to improve practice.

p.2

Areas for development

ƒ While the quality of assessments is good overall, Children’s services` rigorous approach to welfare checks is undermined by the failure of some partner agencies to share information in a timely manner. This impacts adversely on practitioners’ ability to complete some initial assessments within statutory timescales resulting in delays for some families knowing the outcome of the assessment. ƒ Although the ethnicity of children, young people and families is recorded and interpreters are routinely used, assessments do not consistently reflect consideration of cultural, ethnic or religious needs. ƒ Effective and reliable monitoring of assessment and case management performance is undermined by both the electronic case recording systems and individual errors by practitioners in recording information.

p.2

Areas for development

Heather Brown Divisional Manager, Social Care Safeguarding

p.3

Areas for development

Copy: Derrick Anderson, Chief Executive, London Borough of Lambeth Paul McGlone, Lead Member for Children’s Services, London Borough of Lambeth Andrew Spencer, Department for Children, Schools and Families

p.3