Ofsted praises progress in Devon children’s service

The findings follow Ofsted’s latest monitoring visit to Devon County Council’s children’s services in August, which examined front door services, child protection responses, early help and the emergency duty service.

Inspectors found that children and families are receiving a timely, well-coordinated and increasingly integrated response from practitioners and managers.

The report said leaders had taken “deliberate and purposeful action” to strengthen services, increase capacity, support staff and create the conditions needed for sustained improvement.

Inspectors highlighted the way social workers, managers and partner agencies work together to ensure children receive the right help at the right time. Concerns are reviewed promptly, they found, while decisions are generally proportionate and informed.

Children at risk of significant harm are receiving swift responses through well-established pathways, according to the report.

Inspectors also identified improvements in the way children move between services, with transitions from the front door into assessment and intervention teams being managed effectively. Children continue to receive timely oversight and support during these transitions.

Becky Hopkins, Director for Children’s Social Care, said: "We are pleased that Ofsted has recognised the improvements being made across our front door services, early help provision and emergency response arrangements. Inspectors saw dedicated staff and managers working together with partners to provide timely, child-focused support for children and families.

"The report reflects the hard work of colleagues across children's services and our partner organisations, as well as the deliberate action we have taken to strengthen capacity, improve oversight and create the conditions for lasting change and improvement. We have a clear understanding of the areas where we need to go further and remain fully focused on continuing that progress."

Devon’s targeted early help service was singled out as a particular strength. Ofsted found that families are being offered meaningful support at the earliest opportunity, with practitioners building trusted relationships and responding quickly when circumstances change.

Inspectors also praised the way handovers between social workers and family intervention practitioners are managed sensitively, helping families avoid having to repeatedly tell their story.

The emergency duty service, which provides support outside normal office hours, was also praised for delivering a timely, responsive and child-focused service.

Leadership, governance and quality assurance arrangements were found to be becoming increasingly mature and influential in driving improvement.

Councillor Richard Jefferies, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services – Social Services, said: "At the heart of this report is a simple but important message: more children and families are getting the help they need when they need it. Ofsted has recognised improvements in how concerns are identified, how quickly services respond and how partners are working together to keep children safe.

"Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up safe, supported and able to achieve their potential. While our improvement journey continues, these findings are another positive step forward for children and families in Devon."