Authority told how to improve children’s social care

THE GOVERNMENT has directed how East Riding of Yorkshire Council should improve its children’s social-care services after the department was rated inadequate.

Ofsted judged three of four areas of children’s services to be inadequate in March after an inspection in December 2019, citing a “marked deterioration in the quality of help and protection support for children in East Riding” since it was rated as good in 2016.

The Department for Education published an improvement notice to the council on Friday.

It reveals the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson, has appointed an adviser to the Department and the council during the process until he is satisfied one is no longer required.

The council has been told to create a plan that will “deliver appropriate and sustainable improvement”.

As part of this, it needs to set up an improvement board with an independent chair to oversee implementation of the plan.

Reports to the improvement board should include data, analysis and recommendations supported by evidence, says the notice.

It adds the council should “highlight those objectives which are slow to progress and highlight where contributions need to be strengthened”, saying the views of front-line staff and of children and young people will be taken into consideration.

The Department of Education will review progress at least every six months.

Eoin Rush, director of children, families and schools at the council, said the council began an “immediate programme of work to address those issues identified as needing improvement” after the December inspection.