Ofsted to resume children’s social care provider visits

Ofsted has announced it will resume local authorities and children’s social care provider visits from next month (September).

The watchdog said the visits will provide assurance that vulnerable children are getting the help, care and protection that they need, amid concerns that some have fallen out of sight during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It added that inspectors will look at the experiences of children and how local authorities and providers have made the best possible decisions for children in the context of the pandemic.

For local authorities, that includes how they have joined up schools and social care services while schools were closed, to stop vulnerable pupils from slipping through the net.

Ofsted will visit as many providers and local authorities as possible, prioritising those it has concerns about.

It will also include a sample of local authorities judged good or outstanding at their last inspection to identify good practice that will help others with their recovery plans.

Full inspections of local authorities will not resume until January 2021 at the earliest, while routine inspections of social care providers, such as children’s homes, are on hold until April 2021.

The inspectorate has also published new guidance for local authorities and the children’s social care providers it regulates and inspects on how the resumed visits will work in practice.

‘The normal lines of sight to our most vulnerable children haven’t been in place in recent months. It’s vital that we get back into local authorities and other social care providers to look at how children are being cared for and protected,’ said Ofsted’s national director for regulation and social care, Yvette Stanley.

‘We are acutely aware of the pressure children’s social care is facing in the wake of COVID-19. This is not about judging, but offering reassurance to children, families, and those commissioning services. We also want to highlight the excellent work local authorities and providers are doing to make sure children get the help, protection and care they deserve in very difficult circumstances.’

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