Ofsted
How many hats?
Martin Samuels considers the advantages of having one director combining the children’s services and adult social services roles, and looks at what the future holds for the ‘twin hats’ job.
Ofsted calls for social care workforce strategy
The watchdog the need is ‘more urgent than ever’ as it published a report looking at the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on children’s social care.
Leeds denies cover-up over social care grievance
A senior Leeds City Council member has denied a ‘cover-up’ amid suggestions concerned frontline social workers have submitted a grievance over high caseloads.
ADCS conference: Ofsted concerns over residential provision
Residential provision for children tops the concerns of Ofsted’s national director for regulation, Yvette Stanley.
Improvement notice for Tameside
Tameside MBC’s children’s social care service has been issued with an improvement notice by the Department for Education (DfE).
Adult social care inspections ahead
Whitehall officials are drawing up a controversial adult social care inspections system after the passing of a new law.
Council to retain children's services control
North East Lincolnshire Council has been ordered to work with another authority to improve its children’s services.
Government intervenes over council's 'inadequate' children's services
The Government has issued a statutory direction to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council forcing it to improve its children’s social care services.
Gloucestershire improvement notice lifted
An improvement notice issued to Gloucestershire CC’s children’s services has been lifted.
West Sussex to retain control of children's services
The Department for Education had ordered the establishment of a company to run children’s services after it was judged to be inadequate by Ofsted in 2019.
Councils to be allowed to set up multi-academy trusts
Local authority leaders have welcomed the Government’s plan to allow councils to set up and run their own multi-academy trusts.
South Gloucestershire handed improvement notice
The Government has issued an improvement notice to South Gloucestershire Council following concerns about its children’s services.
EXCLUSIVE: Government has no action plan for improving children's social care
The Government has admitted it does not have a single detailed action plan to deliver high-quality care to all children despite previously claiming one existed.
Call for chief and leader to quit after Star death
A senior Bradford city councillor has called for the chief executive and leader to quit in the aftermath of the death of Star Hobson.
Ofsted finds 'no improvement' at St Helens
Children’s services at St Helens MBC have not improved despite an injection of increased funding, Ofsted has concluded.
Leadership blamed for 'inadquate' children's services
‘Instability’ in senior leadership has led to ‘serious failures’ in Bury MBC’s children’s services, Ofsted has found.
Spielman: No silver bullet for children's social care
Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman has warned there is no ‘silver bullet’ to the long-term problems in the children’s social care sector.
Care managers 'unaware' of weaknesses in service
Children’s services at Halton BC have undergone a ‘deterioration’ since the council was judged to require improvement, a watchdog has found.
National review after concerns at children's homes
Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has commissioned a national review in the wake of Ofsted deregistering two residential children’s homes operating in Doncaster after safeguarding concerns.
Council pledges to support children after services rated ‘inadequate’
The leadership of North East Lincolnshire Council has pledged to protect and support young people after the local authority’s children’s services were judged ‘inadequate’ overall.