Children’s safeguarding in Rochdale praised one year after damning Ofsted report

The children’s safeguarding team at Rochdale Council has received praise for its work – just one year on from a ‘requires improvement’ rating from Ofsted.

A targeted inspection of the local authorities’ approach to safeguarding was deemed to be ‘well established’ by inspectors. The Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (RBSCP) approach to identifying need and risk was assessed by representatives Ofsted, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The RBSCP is a collaborative partnership between the council, local police and fire authorities, NHS service providers and schools to ensure safeguarding of children is properly implemented.

Inspectors, visiting at the end of April 2024, praised the partnership’s understanding of risk and harm – and how the correct protocols are followed by each authority. However, staffing was seen as an issue that was stopping some roles being effective.

The report, published on 12 July, read: “Staff in smaller schools and health visitors, school nurses and midwives have the requisite support, capacity and resources to carry out their lead practitioner roles effectively.

“Thresholds of risk and harm are understood well by professionals in Rochdale. Most children who need a statutory service are referred promptly to the EHASH [Early Help and Safeguarding Hub] using the RBSCP agreed multi-agency referral form (MARF). Police submit a care plan (CAP) when concerns about children are identified.”

Delays on referrals were identified in the police, where the report suggests there is no clarity over timescales for care plans.

The partnership was told to improve on staffing numbers; timeliness of work; including the children’s voice on matters; and increase data-sharing between agencies. Despite this, staff across health services, social workers, police, schools and early help practitioners report that they are well supported, valued and have good access to a wide range of training and development opportunities, the report found.

Inspectors also praised the culture of learning and openness as well as targeted early help frontline practitioners; an effective poverty strategy that recognises the impact of deprivation on children; and the receptiveness to external scrutiny.

A spokesperson for Rochdale Safeguarding Children’s Partnership (RBSCP) said: “Inspectors reported shared priorities across the partnership were communicated clearly ensuring children’s safeguarding, identifying need and risk remains high on everyone’s agenda. Partners know their services well and have an accurate understanding of the collective local, regional and national challenges they face.

“There were some areas for improvement including the need to work on quality assurance arrangements and routine multi-agency audits which monitor the impact of front door services for vulnerable children as well as a consistent approach to considering the voice of children. The partnership is developing an action plan which will address these areas.

“Many more strengths were identified including practice by committed multi-agency partners that are helping to protect children across all age groups. Relationships were strong and respectful and there was a culture of learning and openness to challenge in response to concerns about children being harmed and child safeguarding practice.

“Inspectors also highlighted: ‘Highly committed specialist police officers, social workers and health practitioners make persistent efforts to engage children at their pace, and parents are actively included in safety planning’.”

George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporter