Children’s services in Leeds branded ‘inadequate’

EFFORTS by Leeds council to safeguard the city’s youngsters are still inadequate, say watchdogs. The Care Quality Commission and Ofsted, in a joint report published today, found although improvements are under way in children’s social care services, more work is needed to bring them up to scratch as the overall effectiveness of safeguarding services was substandard.

Ofsted inspectors had previously condemned the authority’s Children’s Services for leaving seven youngsters at potential risk of serious harm after an unannounced visit last summer.

It labelled the department “poor” with “serious weaknesses”.

But after an announced visit at the end of 2009, both watchdogs acknowledge much has been done, saying the local authority has “responded well”.

In the specific area of services for children in care, standards have now achieved a grade three rating – adequate.

Coun Stewart Golton, executive board member with responsibility for children’s services, said improving standards was a priority.

He said: “This latest report confirms what we have been doing – with positive progress being made, but still much to be done to further improve.

“While an ‘inadequate’ rating for the overall effectiveness of safeguarding services isn’t good news, positive progress is being made.”

Weaknesses identified by Ofsted last summer included poor record-keeping, inconsistency in social work practice, key procedures including those for child protection were out-of-date and quality of information passed on to relevant services was inconsistent.

The new report says: “Poor staff performance is being addressed and systems and processes have already been redesigned”. There was praise for the way youngsters being cared for by the council are encouraged to lead healthy lives and do well at school, both of which were rated good.

The way senior managers prioritise work, partnerships with other organisations, and the promotion of equality and diversity issues also achieved an overall grade two rating – good.

Rosemary Archer, director of children’s services, had been due to retire in March but after the “poor” rating she retired last month.