Sheffield Council’s Children’s Services have been highly commended by Ofsted

Following a recent Ofsted visit, the Yorkshire and Humber City is said to be ‘doing the right thing’ for children.

Last month Ofsted, The Office for Standards in Education, carried out a visit to children’s services in Sheffield and after meeting with practitioners, managers and leaders of children’s homes, declared the city is providing ‘strong corporate and political support for children.’

Children’s Services and Skills Department, Ofsted published a report which details how social workers in Sheffield act quickly and thoroughly to put effective plans in place for children who are no longer able to stay with their parents. 

Additionally, services in Sheffield were praised for having robust processes in place to minimise and challenge delays within the care system, which is positive news after Ofsted discovered earlier this year that some children’s homes were violating legal requirements.

As well as praising the practical work staff are doing in Sheffield, Ofsted also complimented the sensitive work they’re doing with children to help them prepare for a permanent home.  

Staff who work in children’s homes have found children benefit from drawing pictures that display their interests and illustrate what they want from a home environment.

Social workers have also constructed later-in-life letters that children can take to their new homes and read once they reach a certain age – they contain details about their birth family.

However, inspectors did outline two recommendations for improvement including, planning for children to transition to adult services and the quality and consistency of recording supervision meetings. 

Cllr Mick Rooney, Co-Chair of the Education and Families Policy Committee said: ‘It’s great to see Ofsted recognising the hard work and dedication of our staff who strive day in day out to do their best by Sheffield’s children.

‘The report illustrates that there is a real commitment to get the most effective plans in place, as quickly as possible, while making sure children’s voices are heard and that they feel part of the decision-making process.

‘Reading that ‘Foster carers feel well supported’ and that they have ‘established strong support networks and provide mentoring to newly approved carers’ was a particular highlight.

‘Foster carers play a vital role in providing children in care with love and stability and we always need more of them.’

Photo by Benjamin Elliott