No Wiltshire children are being left at risk of harm according to a report on Wiltshire Council children’s services by Ofsted inspectors. And there is approval in their report of the aims of improvements the Council have put in place.
However, after a four week assessment of services for children in the county in need of help and protection, looked after children and care leavers, Ofsted judged that the service “Requires improvement to be good”.
The inspectors’ report includes recommendations for the Council to follow in continuing improvements already made.
The report notes the importance of children having access to a permanent social worker and recognises the work the Council is already undertaking in this area. Wiltshire Council has been running a recruitment campaign for permanent social workers as well as committing to lower caseloads and ensuring clear career pathways are available. Since the recruitment campaign began last year, 71 social workers have joined the council with a further 17 due to join very soon.
In 2012 Ofsted found the children’s services to be ‘inadequate’ and by August 2013 they were ‘adequate’ with inspectors praising the Council’s ‘swift and effective’ response to the 2012 judgment.
After the 2013 inspection the Council was told it had to take immediate action to strengthen planning arrangements for children assessed by social workers as being in need.
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