Ofsted has rated Trafford Council's children's services as 'inadequate', the lowest possible rating, following an inspection that found failings putting children at risk. The watchdog identified delays leaving children in 'potentially unsafe' situations, ineffective leadership, and 'unrealistic expectations' placed on children to keep themselves safe.
Inspection findings
Inspectors carried out the inspection over two weeks in June. They found a 'serious deterioration' in some service areas and said leaders had 'not fully understood the scale and impact of this on children and families'. Delays in initial 'front door' responses are 'leaving children in potentially unsafe situations for too long', the report added. Many children experience 'lengthy' delays in the allocation and consideration of their needs, and their circumstances remain unknown during these 'significant and serious periods of delay'.
While child protection investigations are 'mostly comprehensive' and consider needs and experiences, some planning is 'not effective' due to 'unrealistic expectations being placed on children to keep themselves safe', Ofsted said. For some 16 and 17-year-olds who present as homeless, there are 'serious and significant delays' in agreeing for them to go into care when that is needed. That means 'some children are left in unsafe circumstances and suffer significant harm', inspectors ruled.
Leadership and response
The report added: “The scale of these issues was not fully understood by leaders until this inspection. Leaders did not have a wholly accurate self-assessment of the quality and impact of services for children in Trafford. In some areas, action had been taken, such as the reallocation of resources. However, leaders have not been effective in prioritising, challenging and making improvements in some critical areas of the service.”
Leaders were 'receptive to challenge' and have 'reflected on and responded proactively to feedback', Ofsted said. Praise was also given for the experiences and progress of children when they were in care, however, with this part of the service rated 'good'. They live in 'well-supported, stable placements with carers who provide warm and consistent care', Ofsted said, which enables them 'to settle, thrive and develop secure and strong attachments'. Care leavers are 'assisted to build independence', the report added. Children at risk of exploitation are also 'supported effectively' by specialists, with social workers acting as advocates to ensure their voices are heard.
Areas for improvement
Ofsted has identified nine areas that Trafford Council needs to improve. These include the 'timeliness and response to children at risk of significant harm', the 'quality and impact' of safety planning, and leaders' understanding of the effectiveness and impact of practice.
George Devlin, Trafford's executive member for babies, children and young people, said: “First and foremost, we want to acknowledge the children, young people and families who rely on our services. This report tells us that, in some important areas, we have not provided the standard of service they have a right to expect. For that, we are sorry. We fully accept Ofsted's findings and recognise that some children have waited too long for support and protection. That is not good enough, and we are determined to put it right. Our absolute priority is the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. Every decision we make in response to this report will be driven by what is best for children and their families.”
He added: “Inspectors recognised leaders' openness to challenge and responsiveness to concerns raised during the inspection. However, the report is clear that leaders did not fully understand the scale and impact of issues in some service areas. Our focus is now on strengthening oversight and accelerating improvement. While the report contains serious concerns, it also identifies important strengths. Inspectors found that children in care are supported by trusted social workers and carers, with many thriving in stable and nurturing placements. The report also highlights the strength of the SHINE team's work with children at risk of exploitation and recognises improvements made for cared-for children and care-experienced young people. We are proud of the dedication shown by our staff, foster carers and partners. They care deeply about Trafford's children and work tirelessly to support them. The report recognises many examples of good frontline practice, and we thank our workforce for their commitment.”
Coun Devlin continued: “However, we recognise that positive practice in some areas cannot distract from the serious issues identified. We have already started implementing improvement actions and will move at pace to strengthen safeguarding, oversight and responsiveness. Children and families deserve services that are consistently good. We are committed to learning from this inspection, being transparent about our progress and delivering the improvements required so every child receives the protection, support and opportunities they deserve. The report recognises that Trafford continues to have strong political and corporate commitment to children and that significant investment has been made in children's services despite wider financial pressures. That commitment remains unwavering. We are determined to ensure that investment translates into consistently good experiences and outcomes for every child.”
Political reaction
Opposition councillors have criticised the authority. Conservative leader of the opposition on the authority Nathan Evans branded it 'one of the most serious reports any council can receive', saying it 'represents a devastating failure for Trafford and, most importantly, for vulnerable children and their families'. He added: “Trafford residents deserve to know how this happened, what went wrong, and who is accountable. This is not about blaming hardworking frontline social workers, who do an incredibly difficult job. Accountability starts with those responsible for the leadership, governance and management of children's services. We now expect an urgent recovery plan, regular public reporting on progress and complete openness with councillors and residents. If those responsible cannot restore confidence and deliver the improvements Trafford's children deserve, then they must seriously consider whether they are the right people to lead that recovery. The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children must always come first. Trafford's children deserve better, and we will not stop asking the difficult questions until they get the service they deserve.”
Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the authority Shaun Ennis said the report was a 'devastating outcome' for Trafford and 'deeply concerning for families and young people'. Trafford's difficult financial picture, which has seen it seek exceptional financial support from the Government for two years running, is also partly to blame, he believes. He added: “Staff on the ground across our children's services are being tasked with the impossible. Trafford is a critically underfunded council. The money that the government gives us does not match the cost of the services we are required to provide. Ultimately, the buck stops with the new Prime Minister, who knows better than most the dire financial challenges that Trafford is facing and who has it very much in his power to change things.”
