Council says its Children's Services need more work

The move follows Ofsted’s sixth monitoring visit ahead of a full inspection expected later this year.
The Inspectors acknowledged certain improvements, but highlighted problems including children experiencing delays in receiving help.
The latest visit forms part of Ofsted’s ongoing monitoring of the service after it was judged ‘inadequate’ at its last full inspection under the Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS) framework. 
Since then, the council has been subject to regular monitoring visits to assess progress against areas for improvement.
In a letter published following the most recent visit in May, Ofsted’s lead inspector, Nick Bennison, highlighted both the progress being made and the areas where further improvement is needed across the service.
The visit focused on key areas of Children’s Services, including support for children with disabilities, the quality of plans, and how quickly families receive help.
In its latest findings, inspectors recognised improvements in the support provided to children with disabilities. Social workers were praised for regularly visiting children and building a strong understanding of their lives.
The letter states: “Disabled children are regularly visited by their social worker. Using direct work, workers gain a thorough understanding of the child’s world. This ensures that they can respond quickly when children’s needs and circumstances change.”
Inspectors also highlighted improvements in the quality of child in need and child protection plans, noting they are becoming more effective for children and families.
However, Ofsted found that challenges remain, particularly around high caseloads and delays in support. 
The report noted that too many children experience delays in receiving the help they need and may see multiple social workers, making it harder to build consistent, trusting relationships.
The council has already made significant investment in the service and is continuing its recruitment drive to bring in more experienced permanent social workers, including offering relocation support to attract staff from outside the area.
Ofsted also highlighted the need to further improve the speed of support for children on child in need plans, reduce the time between visits, and ensure plans are clear, practical and easy for families to follow. Inspectors said more focus is needed on understanding the impact of social work, not just whether processes are being followed.
The visit recognised strong leadership within the service, with a permanent Director of Children’s Services now in post. Inspectors said senior leaders understand the areas for improvement and are taking action to accelerate progress.
They also noted the strong backing for Children’s Services across the Council, including through the Children and Education Scrutiny Committee and cross-party support for the improvement programme.
Cllr Kate Tomlinson, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said: “As a new administration, we hope to continue the improvement plan with cross-party support. 
"We fully recognise that there is more to do and that the pace of these improvements may need to be quicker.
"We welcome Ofsted’s recognition of the progress being made, particularly in how we support children with disabilities and the improvements in the quality of our plans. 
"We also accept Ofsted’s findings and are acting on them, with a clear focus on reducing caseloads, strengthening our workforce, and ensuring children and families receive consistent, timely support.
“With a permanent Director now in place and continued investment in the service, we are building momentum as we prepare for a full inspection later this year. 
"We have a fantastic team across Children’s Services, and we remain committed to delivering the high-quality support that children in Swindon deserve."
 

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