Inspection reveals the need for priority action to protect vulnerable children

An Ofsted report has highlighted the need for a number of changes in the way the Council deals with the assessment of vulnerable children in the borough.

An unannounced inspection of the council’s children’s social care service took place early last month.

Inspectors looked at electronic case records, supervision files and notes - as well as observing social workers and senior practitioners undertaking referral and assessment duties. They also spoke to a range of staff including managers, social workers and other practitioners.

Inspectors highlighted several areas for development in the report – including three areas for priority action.

Inspectors found that improvements were needed in assessing the risk of potential harm at the first point of contact, that child protection investigations were not always progressed in a thorough and timely manner and that a large proportion of initial child protection case conferences are held outside the required timescale.

Cabinet member for children’s services on Rochdale Borough Council, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali said: “Of all of the services provided by the council, protecting our most vulnerable children is one of our most important. This unannounced inspection has given us several clear priority areas where we need to take action in both the short and long-term to improve the quality of our service."

The inspectors also found a number of strengths, including the accessibility of managers, the quality and availability of training, the creation of a new duty team dealing with all contacts, referrals, and initial assessments and the council’s recent review of the out-of-hours service and subsequent provision of a dedicated out-of-hours team.

They also praised the enthusiasm and commitment of staff who have adapted to recent changes well and found that the recent improvements in how the authority handles domestic abuse and the process for joint assessments with the police were satisfactory.

Councillor Ali continued: “I am pleased with some of the strengths highlighted in the report and these reflect some of the recent changes that have been made in our children’s services provision. Where further changes are needed we will make them as soon as possible - with the sole aim of ensuring that the borough’s children are effectively protected from harm.”

The inspectors referred to the high level of demand in the service and the high number of cases held by social workers.

The council’s interim Executive Director for Children’s Services, Steve Titcombe said: “This report gives us some clear areas to focus on – and we will take urgent action to address the concerns raised. We’ve allocated additional resource already, in early 2009, because of increased demands – this inspection report indicates that more needs to be done.

“We will be taking steps to increase the number of social workers and social care staff employed within our frontline teams. We will also strengthen our management arrangements in order to improve the consistency, quality and timeliness of assessments and our work with children and families.”

The results of the inspection will now contribute to Ofsted’s annual review of the performance of the authority’s children’s services.