Setting

Mr David Williams Corporate Director for Children and Young People’s Services Durham County Council County Hall Durham DH1 5UL

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children’s services

This letter contains the findings of the recent unannounced inspection of contact, referral and assessment arrangements within local authority children’s services in Durham County Council which was conducted on 16 and 17 March 2010. 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.

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children’s services

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

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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.

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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:

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children’s services

ƒ Contacts dealt with by Social Care Direct are appropriately screened. Recent improvements in the quality of referrals completed have ensured children and families receive a prompt and appropriate level of service. 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 ƒ Initial and core assessments are of a satisfactory quality and most are completed in a timely manner. Children and young people are routinely seen and spoken to as part of their assessment.

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children’s services

ƒ Child protection Section 47 Children Act 1989 (CA 1989) enquiries are always carried out by qualified and suitably experienced social workers ensuring appropriate action is taken to safeguard children. Effective statutory partnership arrangements involving the police and health are in place to support decision making with regard to strategy discussions.

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children’s services

ƒ Managers undertake regular case file audits and there is evidence that actions from these audits are linked to improving performance.

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children’s services

ƒ The Local Safeguarding Children Board undertakes regular monitoring and audits of safeguarding services to ensure practice is of a sufficiently high quality.

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children’s services

ƒ The emergency duty team works closely with Social Care Direct and locality teams to ensure consistency of response to children and young people’s needs.

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children’s services

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

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Strengths

ƒ Staff receive regular high quality formal and informal supervision which ensures case work decisions are always made in consultation with a manager and recorded on children’s case files. Staff report that they receive consistent advice, guidance and support from front line managers to enable them to manage decision making regarding risks to children and young people.

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Strengths

ƒ The council’s management information and performance monitoring framework is comprehensive and easily accessible to all managers. It is used effectively to improve performance.

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Strengths

ƒ Newly qualified social workers receive good training and support and carry protected caseloads, ensuring they have the time and capacity to improve their practice during their first year.

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Areas for development

ƒ The council’s Integrated Children’s System is unable to facilitate management oversight of individual casework. Managers have to rely on the duplication of recording, using both paper and the electronic system, which adversely impacts on the capacity of social workers and managers to do their work efficiently.

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Areas for development

ƒ Social work staff in one children in need team were found to be carrying unacceptably high caseloads, resulting in serious delays in recording and the potential for delays in the delivery of services for some children and families.

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Areas for development

ƒ Telephone access to the Social Care Direct service is poor and leads to significant delays in answering calls. The council are fully aware of this issue and plans are in place to improve the service.

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Her Majesty’s Inspector

Copy: George Garlick, Chief Executive, Durham County Council Gail Hopper, Chair of Durham Children Safeguarding Children Board Claire Vasey, Lead Member for Children’s Services, Durham County Council Andrew Spencer, Department for Children, Schools and Families

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