Inadequate Sandwell children's services await watchdog's review
Inspectors have concluded a month-long review of under-fire children's services in Sandwell, leaving councillors hoping they will no longer be classed 'inadequate'.
Sandwell Council was hit with the rating by education watchdog Ofsted in 2013 after it was said to lack a stable management team and rely too heavily on agency staff.
It recently said it had cut agency staff use to less than 10 per cent as it prepared for Ofsted's four week visit.
The Ofsted visit came weeks after a review by the Local Government Association which still found areas in need of improvement.
Councillor Darren Cooper, leader of Sandwell Council, said: "Ofsted finished their inspection last week and we are now waiting for their report.
"We are not able to comment until they publish it.
"We will get the opportunity to see a draft report before it is made public."
Ofsted began its latest inspection of Sandwell's safeguarding and social care services for children and young people on January 28.
The council believes it has 'radically' overhauled the way it works with children and families and that its systems are better.
The authority is hoping to have at least moved from 'inadequate' to 'requires improvement' when the report is published.
The Local Government Association carried out an independent review in November and found good progress had been made in several areas over the past year.
But it also found the service was missing opportunities to learn from complaints, feedback and examples of good practice.
Last year the Government decided to intervene to try to help with the recovery of the department. Monthly audits were then introduced in a bid to speed up improvements.
The council has also been using private firm Impower on a £1.15 million contract over 30 months to help run children's services.
Earlier this month Sandwell children's services boss Councillor Simon Hackett was confident things had turned the corner.
He said at the time: "Ofsted last inspected these services in 2013 and rated them as inadequate. Since then we have radically overhauled the way we work with children and families in Sandwell to keep them safe. We believe our systems now are much improved. We are keen to demonstrate these improvements to Ofsted and, hopefully, showcase the progress we believe we are making. We think we are on the right track."
