|
We will
win back our four-star rating - that was the pledge from County Hall bosses
following a disappointing review of its children's services department.
Earlier this year Norfolk County Council was awarded the coveted four stars by
the Audit Commission for its overall performance.
However, next year one of those stars will be lost because the council's
children's services department has fallen from a “good” grade three to an
“adequate” grade two following an inspection by the Office for Standards in
Education (Ofsted).
Although the council insists the loss of the four star status will not see it
punished financially, they will be striving to regain the star the council
looks set to lose when the annual performance assessment is done in February.
The council's children's services department has had a difficult year, with a
growing number of schools in special measures, including some in Norwich,
record numbers of children in care and problems in improving performance at
GCSE.
But Lisa Christensen, the council's director of children's services, said her
department was striving to improve and outlined work which was in place to help
tackle the schools which have gone into special measures.
She said: “We are dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people
in Norfolk and have evidence that we are making real progress in a number of
areas to transform the way services to families and children are delivered in
the county.
“Our overall grade has dropped from last year despite the fact that we have
improved or maintained performance in the majority of our performance
indicators and it is clear that there is more work to do.
“Ofsted's ruling is disappointing but we will not let it detract from our
determination to improve the opportunities and outcomes for all of Norfolk's
children. That work is already in hand.”
She said initiatives in place already included the development of a teenage
pregnancy action plan and the imminent appointment of three new primary school
advisory staff to help reduce the number of schools requiring special measures.
Mrs Christensen added: “I fully expect the improvement work we are doing to pay
dividends in our ratings for next year and am clear that our focus needs to
continue to be on the service we deliver.”
Her department, the largest at County Hall, was created in 2005 after a major
shake-up saw children's services, including education and social services
relating to young people, brought under one umbrella for the first time.
The council's social services department came under fire in its previous form
for its failure to protect five-year-old Lauren Wright, who died at the hands
of her stepmother Tracey and father Craig in 1998.
In a separate assessment, the council's adult social services department kept
its “good” rating after it was inspected by the Commission for Social Care
Inspection (CSCI).
A spokesman for the Department of Communities and Local Government, responsible
for next year's overall performance review, said: “The CPA assessments have no
direct link to funding decisions by central Government but high performing
councils enjoy greater autonomy on spending decisions and have the power to
trade services.”
|
webmaster@stopinjusticenow.com