Calderdale’s children’s services have been tested like no other in 2020/1. Ofsted inspectors have found them up to the challenge. John Greenwood reports

CHILDREN AND young people are one of the groups hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but help has been there to guide them through maybe the toughest year of their young lives, and on to the future.

Keeping children safe during the pandemic has been the key goal for Calderdale Council’s Children’s and Young People’s Services team.

Regulator Ofsted has recently run the rule over the service, and found it measures up, says service Director Julie Jenkins and council Cabinet member for Children and Young People’s Services, Coun Adam Wilkinson.

Each local authority has its service assessed every 12 months by Ofsted - formal conversations rather than published as a report.

Calderdale’s latest meeting, undertaken by Ofsted’s regional senior inspector with specialist inspectors in social work and education, takes in the year since first lockdown, in terms of social care and schools, said Ms Jenkins.

Coun Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) said the response was positive and encouraging, and the council, whose service was in special measures in 2010, still requiring improvement in

2015 and judged “good, with outstanding features” in 2018’s inspection report, is aiming for the top grading next time.

“Our ultimate aim is to achieve an outstanding judgement from Ofsted - there are still some areas where we have a bit of work to do but it is important to aim high because we want the best for all our children in Calderdale.

“We want to be in a place where all our children are healthy, safe and successful,” he said.

The pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges and the Ofsted team saw a stable and experienced leadership team, regularly liaising with colleagues and those across the wider council and partner organisations, said Ms Jenkins.

“What they said we have done is focused on core services and made sure from the beginning of COVID that we are running a safe service,” she said.

Social care teams acted early last year when personal protective equipment was scarce to source supplies ensuring crucial face-toface visits to families could continue, with a good relationship with schools also supported.

In particular, spotting problems children who may not be subject to protection orders who appear to not be doing