The services and support that Barnet’s children in care receive are continuing to improve since they were rated ‘good’ in 2019, according to the findings of a recent OFSTED inspection of Barnet Council’s Children’s Services.
Council news
OFSTED’s report published this week (2 August) finds that in spite of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the council’s Children’s Services has ensured that “…the vast majority of children in care benefit from living in placement arrangements that meet their individual needs.” The report highlights the significant recent progress made by the Children’s Services leadership team to create more local placements for children and young people, including recruiting more foster carers and hosts for supported living.
The inspection, which took place over 23 and 24 June, also found that the Children’s Services senior leadership, managers, and social workers now all “…demonstrate a clear focus on hearing the voices of children and young people to develop and further improve services.”
The report is a milestone in the progress achieved since OFSTED rated the council’s Children’s Services as ‘good’ in 2019. Over the past two years, the Children’s Services team has continued to make great strides in how they support the borough’s most vulnerable children and young people.
Councillor David Longstaff, Chairman of the Children, Education and Safeguarding Committee, said:
“Supporting our vulnerable children and young people in care during the COVID-19 crisis has been a council priority. The major advances made to ensure their ongoing good health and wellbeing have been reflected in OFSTED’s welcome report. The Children’s Services team has worked tirelessly for these young people, listening to them to understand their needs, and improving the quality and coordination of the support services.
“The insights provided by Her Majesty’s Inspectors give us further areas of focus to build on so that all of Barnet’s children and young people in care can enjoy stable homes and a better start in life.”
Chris Munday, Executive Director of Children and Young People, said:
“OFSTED’s findings show the scope and quality of services that now support Barnet’s children and young people in care. Our comprehensive response to the pandemic has really shone a spotlight on the transformation that has happened, as we ably helped the most vulnerable under the most testing of circumstances. The report also shows the progress we’ve made in supporting those young people with complex needs, such as asylum seekers separated from their families and who have little or no English.
“The report is extremely positive about the skill and dedication of our social workers and other children’s workers to improving the life chances of children and young people in care. We have a superb team in place to continue to progress and take on OFSTED’s recommendations for areas of further improvement.”