CHILDREN’S services in Warwickshire are improving.
Warwickshire County Council (WCC) has been judged as good in all areas following a recent Ofsted report.
The overall rating for Warwickshire has improved since the last inspection in 2017, when children’s services were rated as requiring improvement.
The latest inspection by Ofsted found children and families in Warwickshire benefited from consistently good quality services at an early stage, making a real difference to their lives. Ofsted found WCC social workers listened carefully to children and made sure children’s views informed decision-making. Social workers were also found to be building stronger, more trusting relationships with families, giving parents confidence to develop their parenting skills.
Ofsted also found when children came into care, they were placed within their wider family when possible and when in their best interests.
WCC children’s services spokesman Coun Jeff Morgan said: “Our workforce and partner agencies have worked tirelessly to transform children’s services.
“Since the last inspection in 2017 and throughout the global pandemic, we have continued to focus on long-term improvements to better support some of our most vulnerable children and families, and I’m so pleased that Ofsted has recognised this.
“I’d like to pay tribute to our partners and everyone in our children’s services, who all work with passion and purpose every day to improve the lives of children in Warwickshire.
“I would also like to thank the children and young people who engaged with us throughout our journey to improve services, we remain committed to making Warwickshire the best place it can be for them to live, learn and grow.
“We know the work doesn’t stop here though. We are continuing to improve our children’s services to achieve excellence and we welcome the recommendations Ofsted have made to further strengthen our ambition of making Warwickshire a child friendly county.”
Visit files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50176757 to read the full Ofsted report.
