Ofsted has published its inspection report into Local Authority Children’s Services 2022. The outcome of the inspection is that Herefordshire Children’s Services is an inadequate service.
Read the Inspection Report Here
Read the Herefordshire Council Response here
Inspectors identified nine key areas for development. Herefordshire Council are required to submit their response and action plan by 20 December. Once the report is in the public domain, multi-agency partners will have the opportunity to contribute to this plan and also to reflect on the Ofsted view that:
“Relationships with partner agencies are underdeveloped. This is in part due to the churn of senior managers and ineffective multi-agency arrangements. Operationally, agencies are not working together effectively. There is much more to do to ensure a collective responsibility across the partnership for the improvement of services to children and families…”
The Secretary of State has appointed Eleanor Brazil as the Commissioner for Children’s Services. Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet will receive the report at their meeting on 29 September and the Chief Executive has called a meeting of Extra-ordinary Full Council on Friday 30 September. The agenda for these meetings will be published on the council website.