Ofsted set South Tyneside Council deadline for children's services improvement
Ofsted inspectors return for full inspection of South Tyneside Council's children's services.
South Tyneside Council's children's services department is being revisited by Ofsted inspectors in the first "full inspection" in three years.
The verdict was delivered following visits in December 2022 and February 2023, with inspectors saying there had been a decline in the quality of services since the council's last full inspection in 2017, when the local authority was rated "good."
The 2023 Ofsted report noted visits found “serious failures which have resulted in some children’s welfare not being safeguarded or promoted”.
However, it added the council “took timely and decisive action to address emerging findings during the inspection in December” and had made “significant changes” in its bid to deliver the best services possible.
In recent years, the council has seen a number of Ofsted monitoring visits which have shown positive improvements in the service, but because a full inspection has not taken place, children's services are still rated "inadequate" overall.
This could soon change as the full inspection process has started, with Ofsted reassessing South Tyneside Council's children's services which will lead to a new published inspection report and rating later this year.
Councillor Michelle Fascione, the council's cabinet member for children and families, education and skills, said the council was committed to "delivering the best possible outcomes for our children and young people".
“We welcome Ofsted inspectors to South Tyneside and the opportunity to showcase the progress we are making across our children’s services," she said.
“Over the past three years, we have been on a clear and focused journey of improvement, strengthening leadership, investing in our services, and ensuring children and families receive the right support at the right time.
“Ofsted monitoring visits have already recognised positive progress in our frontline practice, partnership working and how we respond to children and young people.
“We have continued to invest in services, creating more stable and supportive environments for children in our care, and placing a strong emphasis on listening to children and families to shape the support they receive.
“We are ambitious for our children and young people and will continue in our commitment to build on this momentum and deliver the best possible outcomes for our children and young people.
“We expect the inspection report to be published later this year.”
Stuart Easingwood, the council's director of children's services, said the repeat inspection would "regrade and look at the quality of services in South Tyneside".
The senior council officer, who has helped lead improvements in children's services since joining the council in October 2023, said he hoped the service would return to a 'good' rating once again.
"We have been waiting for Ofsted since November so we're quite happy that they're here now because it's really about putting South Tyneside children's services where it should be," he added.