Ofsted highlights improvements to Lewisham's children's services
Inspectors, who visited the Council in July, praised the improvements which have been made in supporting children in care despite the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report states: “Senior leaders and partner agencies have worked well together to deliver an effective response to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in Lewisham. The local community has been significantly affected by the pandemic. Tragically, there have been over 600 deaths, which includes a number of Lewisham Council staff. There has been a significant increase in the use of food banks and adults claiming out-of-work benefits. Despite the ongoing pressures this has put on services, leaders have continued to prioritise improvements to children’s services, underpinned by corporate and political support.”
Some of the key strengths highlighted in the report include:
- Children who spoke to inspectors during the visit said that they feel valued by their carers and are being well supported.
- Social workers know their children well. They are passionate advocates for them.
- Senior leaders demonstrate a clear focus on hearing the voices of children to develop and improve services. The children in care council has continued to meet virtually throughout the pandemic. The children have participated in a range of activities, consultations and celebration events, with senior leaders attending some meetings to hear their views at first hand.
- Staff morale is high. Workers report feeling supported by visible and approachable managers and senior leaders through the challenges of the pandemic and the good support they received with home-working arrangements.
The report also highlights areas for improvement, including ensuring there is a suitable range of homes for young people in care; some record-keeping and the use of child-friendly language in reports.
Cllr Chris Barnham, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “This report is a welcome acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of our children’s social care team. They have continued to protect our most vulnerable children throughout the challenges of the pandemic. They should be proud of the difference their work is making to the lives of children.
“It’s great that Ofsted recognise the progress we’ve made in recent years. We’re in no doubt that there is still more to be done - we welcome the feedback on further improvements we can make and action is already in hand to tackle them.”