To share the feedback letter from Ofsted following their fifth Monitoring Visit conducted on 22 - 23 October 2024

The Leader of the Council introduced the report.  The key points were highlighted, notably that the focus was on children at risk of extra familial abuse in the forms of exploitation and the visit reviewed the whole service, including the get safe team.  It was found by Ofsted that children at risk of extra familial harm in Herefordshire benefited from a committed specialist team which reduced the risk to many of these vulnerable children.  They found that the get safe team worked effectively to reduce risks from children and young people and their work was timely and well structured. 

Ofsted recognised that staff formed trusting relationships with children and the quality of these relationships served as a positive foundation to reduce the risk to many children.

Regarding early help support and identification of risk, Ofsted found that there was a range of early help services available and for most children their needs and risks were promptly identified.  In MASH these systems enabled the service to undertake prompt screening and allocation, through close work with targeted early help there was a coordinated approach to support children. 

Regarding partnership working, Ofsted found that external partnership collaboration helped to protect vulnerable children through targeted interventions. Multi Agency Child Exploitation (MACE) meetings were held for all children identified as experiencing exploitation and Ofsted Families Partnership meetings provided a structured and multidisciplinary analysis, which led to reliable decisions about next steps.  Ofsted noted that children and families were encouraged to attend MACE meetings which they noted increased their understanding and ownership of any planned intervention. Ofsted asked the council to consider how initial information from meetings could be more productive, and if parental and the young person’s consent were obtained, if better engagement could be achieved.  It was confirmed that the service will take this into consideration.  However, it was acknowledged that some meetings required only agencies to be present. 

Ofsted identified that children were engaged in their assessments and their plans. However, Ofsted noted that some of the plans presented as formulaic and would benefit from better use of the child's own words. It was confirmed that work was underway to provide more tailored plans, to reflect the verbal account that was given.

It was highlighted that Ofsted found that the child and family assessments received in other parts of the service had improved in their quality.  Ofsted noted that these assessments were detailed and reflected the child’s overarching need with an exploration of the risks to the child.  Ofsted found the quality of these assessments led to effective protection, action and support.  However, Ofsted found a small number of children with complex needs and who were in care had experienced placement disruption.  This was causing delay and disruption in their needs being met and understood.  It was confirmed that in response the service was undertaking a senior management led case review for each case, which will provide critical reflection challenge to ensure the council is identifying managing and minimising the risks.  The reviews  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45