To share the feedback letter from Ofsted following their sixth Monitoring Visit conducted in February 2025

Report and Ofsted letter to follow on 20 March 2025.

ChildrenCHTHE MEMBER the The member for children’s and young people introduced the report.  Noted this was the sixth monitoring visit and took place on 18th and 19th of February 2025.  The focus of the inspection was around the quality and timeliness of the social work assessments following referrals into the multi-agency safeguarding hub and those that were deemed to meet particular levels of need, including those activities under section 17 of the Children Act and section 47 of the Children Act.   

It was highlighted that the headline findings reported by Ofsted referred to the timely completion of assessment and support conducted by social workers and family support workers and that they were having a positive impact.  The inspectorate also commented that the leadership was now making tangible progress to improve the quality and consistency of practise within those assessment teams.

The thresholds guidance document inspection found that those thresholds were being appropriately applied and that informed decisions were being made about the level of intervention. Regarding children being accommodated into care, the inspectorate found that these decisions were at the right threshold and that these decisions were appropriate. The inspectorate reported positively on the conduct of strategy meetings and the focus on dealing with risk within those discussions.

In respect of re-referral rates, it was confirmed that the service were aware, and this was the subject of further work and analysis, in particular the service are looking to understand what may be around barriers to accessing early help for families to sustain positive outcomes. It was noted that this was also an indicator of improved confidence from partner agencies to re-refer matters back to children services where they felt the need to do so.

Partnership working was something that had been mentioned by the inspectorate on previous visits, the inspectorate reported on the range of professionals and agencies that were involved in making an important contribution to those assessments as well as providing support to those families.

It was noted that Ofsted also reported positively about effective information sharing and that decisions were being made together with partners.   It was highlighted that in respect of working with children and families, Ofsted reported that many social workers developed meaningful relationships with parents and carers in a skilled way.   It was confirmed that during that period of assessment they were undertaking direct work with children and families to make sure that responses to risk were appropriate and timely.

There was a focus on young carers and there was positive reporting about the comprehensive of the assessments and the child focused reporting that staff advocated for and supported children. Ofsted recognised that was informing the service’s audit work, and that was giving meaningful insights on the impacts of the service’s practise.

Regarding quality of practise, Ofsted found good quality and timeliness in the assessments.  The cabinet member highlighted a number of elements which were in the report, noting that section 47 enquiries were thorough, the risks were fully understood and explored, and safety plans were being shared in a timely way.  Ofsted also reported positively on the progress with the pre-birth assessment work.

Regarding management and leadership, Ofsted found that there was strong understanding and commitment across the whole council.  The cabinet member noted that Childrens Scrutiny should be recognised for their work in exploring that impact across the whole council on previous occasions.

Ofsted reported positively on the service’s strength and quality assurance activity.  It was noted there were three elements of quality assurance activity in the improvement plan.  The cabinet member noted it was pleasing to see it being recognised by the inspector and it was clearly contributing to that forward momentum.

The service acknowledged there was still more work to do on its audit activity, but forward progress was being seen. 

It was highlighted that the service’s workforce reported again to Ofsted that they enjoyed working for Herefordshire Council, they felt engaged and supported by managers and leaders quoting regular supervision, good quality learning and development and officer support for the newly qualified social workers. All of which contributed to the continued success to improve the council’s permanency recruitment. 

The council are in anticipation of one further monitoring visit prior to full inspection, which is expected to likely be before the end of 2025.

In summary the cabinet member noted that tangible progress had been made across several areas and reflected on comments that had been made in previous monitoring visits. Notably, recognition of the improvement in the quality and practise of social work assessments and the leadership seeing that tangible progress. The previous concerns regarding the pace of progress but this was clearly moving on significantly now.  The appropriate application of thresholds in the partnership working elements, including that effective information sharing, reference to the skill of social workers building effective relationships with children and families, recognising the voice and influence of children and families influencing that practise, the fact that the decisions being made to bring children into care were appropriate to protect them from further harm. 

The cabinet member wished to place on record to all who contributed to this forward progression, particularly the leadership of the director, their leadership team and the leadership of the council’s partner agencies. 

Comments from cabinet members.  The Leader noted that it was heartening to see the feedback, particularly that the thresholds were appropriately applied. It was confirmed by the cabinet member that best practice was being adopted and applied.  The cabinet member noted from a recent visit to the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub that it was important that the partnership understood the thresholds and what the appropriate responses were.  It was also noted that the partner agencies have a responsibility to provide early help and support on an individual agency basis as part of the overall contribution to make meaningful progress for the council’s children and families. 

Thanks were given to the director and the cabinet member for their dynamic leadership which was clearly showing in the quarter 3 budget report that they were on budget and were making £2m of savings this year.  This showed that leadership, direction, guidance and grip made the difference not just money. 

The chair of children’s scrutiny committee, councillor Fagan, provided their views and commented that the role of scrutiny was to act as a critical friend to the service.  It was noted that whilst this report had not been to the scrutiny committee, items within it had been discussed at scrutiny over the past few years.

It was really welcomed that the needs of children and families were now being met and the quality and consistency of practises had improved. Also, that the threshold of intervention were being appropriately applied and where needed, appropriate action was being taken to protect children from harm. 

Councillor Fagan stated it was encouraging to see the relational work happening with families, involving the partners across the county and social care, noting it was working well together. It was further noted that the implementation of the families first approach across that partnership would hopefully go from strength to strength.  

It was welcomed and continued to be encouraged to see the inclusion of child friendly Herefordshire in corporate plans.  It was noted there was more to do to engage all partners and businesses operating throughout Herefordshire to ensure there was a genuine and county wide commitment to all children and young people in the county, not only those within the social care system.

It was noted that Ofsted positively acknowledged the development of relational working in social care and that social workers and family support workers were working well with families providing immediate responses to help parents meet their children's needs or manage the risks.

It was noted that audit activity was well embedded in the service, and the

feedback from children and parents was another indication to scrutiny of the improvements in the service.

It was acknowledged that the investment and development of the service’s social work  team was fabulous as there was a long period with a lack of confidence in that sector, and it was very difficult to recruit. The increased permanency of the workforce was noted as extremely heartening to see the positive development in this area.

It was noted that the council needs to ensure that momentum is not lost and ensure the needs of children with complex issues are addressed.  It was also noted that understandable language should continue to be used with children and families, continue to ensure the complaints process was easily accessible where needed, invest in early help and the workforce.  Councillor Fagan noted it was essential to take children and families with the service as it moved forward on this journey and restore confidence in the service, that has children and families at the heart of everything it does.  

Councillor Fagan expressed appreciation to all the hard work that had gone into this at every level and the fabulous social workers that have joined Herefordshire Council. 

Group leaders gave the views of their groups. Congratulations were extended to all involved in contributing to the progress and the positive letter from Ofsted.  Solid foundations within the council and across the partnership were positively acknowledged. It was positive to see the increase in pace and direction of travel.  It was also positively acknowledged that the reliance on agency staff had reduced and that young social workers were being supported. 

Regarding re-referrals, concern was expressed why these had increased and understanding the reasons for this was very important to gain learning, improve decision making and improve practice.  A key point moving forward is to ensure children who are returned to their families, into their home environments, are supported to enable them to remain there. 

It was noted there was still work to be done and the language in the report was recognition of where the service was.  It was noted that focus should remain on this important area.

The Leader noted in respect of comments at the Improvement Board (on 26 March 2025) there were a lot of positives and good news, but this was also the time to pick up the pace and build on the good foundations to ensure all the good practice that was starting to be embedded takes hold and to build on that momentum.  It was confirmed there was total political commitment to ensure the council remained on the improvement journey and it was further confirmed the priority was not to lose momentum, to achieve the good practice and good outcomes.  

The cabinet member for children’s and young people provided assurance that upon the director’s arrival they produced a robust and clear Improvement Plan that was focused on what needed to be delivered against the Ofsted recommendations. It was confirmed that the focus was on momentum and there was still room to improve.  It was acknowledged that the framework to deliver that, was the Improvement Board and the Improvement Plan as updated by the director. 

It was raised following discussions at the Improvement Board yesterday, that the families commission report was difficult reading and the follow up meetings with families were also difficult to hear.  However, it was important to hear that. The cabinet member confirmed from the services work to explore with children and families the impact of service intervention, it was confirmed that 84% of those families said they felt through the intervention they were helped to address their problems and to reduce the risks. 

It was noted that the council was been supported by its improvement partner, Leeds and it was being explored that when this concludes what the council could do to continue to secure service improvement support.  The cabinet member confirmed there was a robust and sharp focus on those areas and the service still needs to continue to progress, whilst recognising the progress that had been made to date. 

Councillor Lester proposed the recommendations, and it was unanimously resolved that: 

a)</AI8>

<AI9>

That:

a)    Cabinet receive and note the feedback and service response from Ofsted Inspectors’ Monitoring Visit Outcome letter.