Praise for Children’s Services following visit

Children’s Services staff have been praised as “effective” and having a “firm grip” and “clear understanding” of their work after being visited by inspectors.

His Majesty’s Inspectors spent two days with Sheffield City Council’s Children’s Services in October in what is called a focussed visit.

During the visit, the inspectors spent time with staff across all of the teams in Children’s Services, looking at the work they carry out and the effects that has on the often vulnerable children across the city who require their support.

The inspectors looked at the Council’s arrangements for placement and decision making for older children aged 14 to 17 years old. Inspectors also looked at the impact of leaders on social work practice in this area.

In line with national policy, inspectors spoke with children, parents and carers, social workers and managers, and reviewed some relevant children’s records.

A letter from one of the inspectors said of the visit:

“Placement decision-making for older children in care is effective and based on children’s assessed needs and plans.

“Social work practice is child-centred and workers understand older children’s needs very well. They see beyond teenage behaviours, recognising when behaviours are the child’s coping mechanisms, often in response to neglect and trauma. Older children become looked after in a timely manner and when it is in their best interests.”

There was also further praise for:

• Permanence plans being identified at the earliest opportunity and children being supported to return home or live with family members when it is safe to do so
• Frontline management oversight being mostly robust
• Senior leaders having a firm grip and clear understanding of what older children in care need
• Leaders having created a culture of high aspirations across the council and wider partnership for older children and their futures into adulthood

However, the inspectors did note that stronger oversight in the Young Refugee Team could better drive children’s plans, and ensuring children have access to their written records and plans in their own language would benefit them more.

It follows on from OFSTED rating Sheffield’s Children in Care services ‘Outstanding’ in September last year (2023), which can be read about here.

Following receipt of the letter, Cllr Dawn Dale, Chair of the Education, Children’s and Families Committee at Sheffield City Council, said:

“It is great to see the service receive more praise following last year’s ‘Outstanding’ inspection.

“We know we have a child-focused, stable, consistent, and skilled workforce. This reinforces that. I particularly thank the professionals who work to achieve high standards of service for our children and young people.

“Our Children’s Services receive cross-party support and our officers and elected members across the council work hard to make sure every child and young person from Sheffield has a strong sense of belonging and excellent experiences.”

Sheffield City Council’s Executive Director for Children’s Services, Meredith Dixon-Teasdale, said:

“I am really proud of our staff here because this letter states what I know already. We have great staff in Sheffield who are proud to work here and, most importantly, are child centred.

“One of the best quotes from the letter – although there are many – was ‘workers are highly committed and proud of the difference they make to children’s lives’.

“I would once again like to thank all our staff for their hard work and commitment to improving the lives of the children we serve, supporting them to belong in Sheffield.”

The letter can be read in full here.
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