9:00pm Thursday 7th January 2010
By Sarah Hilley
SOCIAL workers in Swindon are among the best in the country at making sure children are safe, according to an Ofsted report.
Ofsted has graded Swindon Council as the top performing local authority in the country for safeguarding and looking after children in care.
Seven years ago, the council’s Children Services department was branded as one of the worst in the country.
Councillor Garry Perkins, Cabinet Member for Children Services, said: “I am very proud of this result which has been achieved through sheer determination and a real team effort across Children Services to raise standards even further.
“This news follows a recently graded outstanding Ofsted rating for our adoption services, so well done to all staff and partners and may the good work continue as we continue to strive towards excellence.”
Ofsted rated the council as ‘good’ overall for its safeguarding and looked after children services after an unannounced inspection last month.
The Ofsted report, which is made up of 33 categories, found that a quarter were ‘outstanding’, with a further 23 rated as ‘good’ and two deemed ‘adequate.’ The report praised the leadership and management within safeguarding teams. The report said: “Leadership across the local area partnership is outstanding and provides a good impetus for driving forward the safeguarding agenda.
“There is strong commitment demonstrated by partners, including the voluntary and community sector, to ensure that the well-being and safety of children and young people are at the heart of all service planning and delivery.”
The latest Ofsted visit comes under a new inspection framework, which started in September.
In December, the entire Children Services department was also judged as good by Ofsted – up from adequate last year and failure in 2002.
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