Children’s services are rated ‘good’ by Ofsted for first time
MANCHESTER council has been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted for the first time – eight years after the local authority was found to be leaving hundreds of vulnerable children at risk of sexual abuse, physical harm and neglect.
It follows a full inspection by the watchdog in March which looked at council services which are supposed to protect children and young people in the city.
This is the first time that Manchester’s children’s services have been rated ‘good’ since the body started inspecting local authorities in this way a decade ago.
It comes after the council was judged as ‘inadequate’ in 2014 when Ofsted found a backlog of nearly 500 children waiting to be assigned a social worker. The damning verdict identified ‘widespread’ failings at the town hall.
Three years later, the council came out of special measures but inspectors ruled that it still required improvement – a rating which remained until now.
The new rating of ‘good’ means its children’s services are now among the best in the region, as no north west authorities are rated higher.
Labour councillor Garry Bridges, who is the executive member for children and schools at the council, said this is a ‘great achievement’ for the city. He said: “We couldn’t have done it without our dedicated staff and their determination to always do their best for our children – a determination which didn’t falter even during Covid – and it’s a credit to them that we’ve continued to improve despite the challenges of the pandemic.
“Inspectors could see that children matter in Manchester – they’re involved in decisions in the city and our staff put them at the centre of everything they do. Inspectors heard first-hand from young people themselves about the positive difference they’ve made to their lives.” Inspectors found children’s services in the city have significantly improved since the last inspection in 2017, praising the ‘consistent practice’ in services for children when they first need support, come into care and leave care. However the report, which rates the council ‘Good’ in three out of four areas, identifies improvements required for children who need help and protection. Inspectors found that social workers are positive about working in Manchester and value the support they get from managers, especially during the pandemic when they ensured the whole workforce was kept up to speed. Social workers who have been at the local authority since the last Ofsted visit told inspectors about a change in culture which is improving children’s lives. Paul Marshall, who is the strategic director for children and education services, Manchester council, said the report is ‘testament to the hard work and dedication’ of staff and partners who are ‘committed to building a safe, happy, healthy, and successful future for all children and young people in the city.’