Three years after damning provision as ‘inadequate’, the regulator acknowledges the effort made to improve and calls current services ‘good’
Ofsted has published its full report on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s provision of child services, following an inspection in November, grading all but one category as ‘good’.
Photo courtesy of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Importantly, the report acknowledges that this marks considerable improvement since the last inspection, in 2022, when the regulator found provision to be ‘inadequate’. In fact, the new report is the first time ever that the council’s services for children have been rated as ‘good’.
The inspection was made between November 3 and 14. The inspectors noted the council’s leadership team had shown deliberate, decisive action to improve. They put the success down to a number of factors: corporate prioritisation, strengthened governance, targeted investment, workforce restructuring and strategic partnership working.
The result has been wide-ranging benefits for children, families and care-experienced young people across the region.
What’s more, early help for those who need it has been strengthened through the development of four family hubs, while the opening of three new children’s homes has given children in care more stable, local options. The new ‘Family Together’ service provides child-focused and therapeutic support to children at risk of entering care, which ensures that most children remain at home when it is safe for them to do so.
The report rated as good the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families, the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection, the experiences and progress of children care leavers and the overall effectiveness of the council’s services.
However, the experiences and progress of children in care still requires some improvement to be rated as good. You can read the full report on the inspection of Solihull local authority children’s services at the Ofsted website.
Cllr Karen Grinsell, Leader of Solihull Council and Cabinet Member for Children & Education, says: ‘We are absolutely thrilled with this outcome, and I am so proud of everyone who has worked tirelessly over the last few years to make the necessary improvements.’
‘We have been on an intense and fast-paced improvement journey, but as Ofsted has commented, through determination and strong leadership, we have been able to transform our services so that children receive the support that they deserve. We know that there is always more to do, so we will continue to make improvements and be ambitious for the future. Children and young people are at the heart of everything the council does, and we will do all we can to enable them to thrive.’
Sir Alan Wood CBE, Children’s Commissioner appointed by the Department for Education to oversee the improvements, adds: ‘I am delighted that Solihull children’s services have been judged by Ofsted to be good. This is well deserved. It has been achieved through focused hard work and excellent leadership, and decision making of both officers and members. Solihull’s children’s services are determined to continue to improve and ensure children and families receive the support they need to thrive.’
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