Inspections
Council launches judicial review over local plan
Sevenoaks DC has begun judicial review proceedings after the Government’s planning inspector refused to endorse its new local plan.
The sector has continued to benefit from Best Value
Before COVID-19, Brexit, austerity and the recession came Best Value inspection - and the more objective chiefs now speak fondly of those days, and the net benefit of the regime, says Abdool Kara.
Jenrick urges councils not to delay on coronavirus spending
Local government secretary Robert Jenrick this week urged council leaders not to put off decisions because of money in their response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Council taking too long to tackle 'critical weaknesses'
Gloucestershire CC is taking ‘too long to address critical weaknesses’ identified by inspectors two years ago, an Ofsted report has found.
SEND system 'not working as well as it should' - top civil servant
The reformed system for supporting children with special and educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is ‘not working as well as it should,’ senior civil servants have admitted.
Children's boss leaves after damning Ofsted
Middlesbrough Council's children’s services boss has stepped down following a damning report exposing serious and widespread failures across the board.
Tackling familial sexual abuse needs a sustained approach
Dealing with child sexual abuse in the family environment calls for informed, committed and resourced leadership and delivery over time, says Mark Rogers.
Ofsted highlights 'serious and widespread failures' at council
Children in Middlesbrough are being left at risk for too long because of failures in practice and leadership, Ofsted has warned.
Ofsted chief in 'blind spots' warning
Ofsted’s chief has warned of ‘blind spots’ in the children’s services inspection system that could mean youngsters are ‘potentially coming to significant harm’.
It’s time to break down that fourth wall
Michael Bracey says it is ‘very welcome to see an inspectorate being really clear about the impact low funding levels almost inevitably will have on services and their capacity to improve as well as meet rising levels of demand’.
Council expresses 'serious concerns' after planning hearings halted
The first local plan to be assessed under a new framework has stalled after the Planning Inspectorate unexpectedly cancelled the next round of hearings.
Council company improves services
A Cheshire West & Chester Council company has continued to improve services, with all seven areas inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) now rated good.
Radical change call amid lack of vision
The think-tank NLGN has called for a radical change in approach to children’s services to end ‘decades of weak national vision’.
Children's services progress 'slow and uneven'
Ofsted has described the progress of Reading BC to improve its children’s services as ‘slow, uneven and not always sustained’.
ADCS conference: More councils improve Ofsted ratings after regime change
A greater number of councils are receiving better Ofsted ratings for their children’s services after the inspectorate introduced a ‘more proportionate’ regime.
Put communities in charge of public service inspection
Adam Lent considers the merits of ‘replacing inspectors swooping in and out every few years’ with a community-led approach that focuses on ongoing improvement, not just one-off inspection.
Information sharing tensions found in child harm review
Legal and ethical tensions between maintaining confidentiality and sharing information are continuing, a review of some of the most serious child protection cases in Scotland has found.
'Slow progress' two years after inadequate judgement
Gloucestershire CC is making ‘slow progress’ in improving its services for its children and young people two years after it was judged inadequate, Ofsted has found.
Elvery: Improving children's outcomes is top priority after Ofsted blow
West Sussex CC’s boss Nathan Elvery has said improving outcomes for the most vulnerable children is the council’s ‘top priority’ after Ofsted rated services inadequate.
Newham failing vulnerable children - Ofsted
Vulnerable children in are being ‘failed’ by Newham LBC, an Ofsted report has found.
