OFSTED

Commissioner appointed to oversee council's inadequate children's services

The Government has appointed a commissioner to improve Medway Council’s children’s services after Ofsted rated them inadequate.

The Government has appointed a commissioner to improve Medway Council's children's services after Ofsted rated them inadequate.

Education secretary Gavin Williamson has appointed Eleanor Brazil as commissioner for children's services at the local authority.

He said that the Ofsted inspection last month had satisfied him that the council was ‘failing to perform to an adequate standard'.

In response, Medway said it ‘fully accepted' all the areas of improvement proposed by the inspectors, although council leader Alan Jarrett said he was ‘surprised' by Ofsted's judgement.

Cllr Jarrett said: ‘Medway has come a long way over the years and residents remain at the heart of everything we do so this news is hugely disappointing.

‘I am particularly surprised by this outcome as we have invested significant additional resources within the service and carried out extensive preparation in readiness for the inspection so I was led to believe that we would retain or improve our previous grading.'

Medway said it had ‘already started' to address the feedback in the Ofsted report by appointing eight new social workers and improving the process for reviewing each case.

A new improvement action plan is also being created that will be published in the autumn.

Cllr Jarrett continued: ‘Supporting our most vulnerable residents remains a top priority and I will ensure that we continue to act with urgency on the recommendations made by Ofsted to ensure that Medway's children in need of help and protection receive the service they deserve.'

He noted that part of the problem was the financial pressures that councils were currently facing.

OFSTED

Proud to serve the sector

By Louise Gittins | 03 July 2025

Writing in LGA Conference week, newly re-elected chair Cllr Louise Gittins reflects on the Government’s key announcements and says council leaders must have ...

OFSTED

Top Talent: Regeneration and Growth

02 July 2025

As part of our regular series on ‘rising stars’, we celebrate the regeneration and growth officers who have been nominated by their councils for having an im...

OFSTED

Grant funding's phase-in

By Ann McGauran | 02 July 2025

The fair funding review 2.0 has landed, but will it put the whole of a beleaguered sector onto a financially sustainable footing and improve the lives of res...

OFSTED

EXCLUSIVE: LGA sideline fears as mayoral base grows

By Dan Peters | 02 July 2025

Senior Local Government Association (LGA) figures have urged the organisation to do more to court the growing army of mayors amid fears it could be sidelined.

Popular articles by William Eichler