Ofsted has found varying rates of improvement at five ‘inadequate’ local authorities and strongly praised two good-rated councils following visits last month.
Council vows to ‘leave no stone unturned’ in identifying social care failings following damning judgment
Members describe longstanding culture of obfuscation and delay in children’s services in approving improvement strategy drawn up in wake of false abuse allegations case
Photo: EtiAmmos/Fotolia
The recommendations were put forward at an extraordinary meeting this week where councillors described frustration at being obstructed from scrutinising children’s services and progress on previous improvement plans by “smoke and mirrors” and “slick assurances” from senior managers.
Prior to the High Court ruling in March on a special guardianship application, which found the service had “ignored” the recommendations of a senior judge and psychiatrist, the council was criticised in three court judgments in 2018.