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Birmingham Children's Services 'inadequate' says Ofsted Birmingham Children's Services 'inadequate' says Ofsted
(about 2 hours later)
Serious failures in Birmingham's Children's Services are leaving young people at risk, Ofsted has found. Serious failures in Birmingham's Children's Services are continuing to leaving young people at risk, Ofsted has found.
Over three months, the cases of nearly 150 children were simply closed due to "a lack of social worker capacity", a report by the watchdog said. Over three months, the cases of nearly 150 children were closed due to a lack of social workers, a report by the watchdog said.
The department has been rated inadequate since 2009.The department has been rated inadequate since 2009.
Birmingham City Council said it "accepted and welcomed" the report and it was already working to address the issues raised. Birmingham City Council said it "accepted and welcomed" the report and was working to address the issues.
The watchdog said there was not enough focus on children who need help. The watchdog said there was not enough focus on children who need help and the most vulnerable children "continue to be failed".
The inspection, which took place in March and April, identified a number of "serious weaknesses" in the authority's social care provision for young people. It cited "long-standing" failures and "inadequate" structures for supporting social workers.
It did find, however, that the most serious cases involving at-risk children were dealt with quickly, and there had been "considerable effort" to improve the low employment rate.
The report, released on Friday, is the latest in a string of inspections to criticise the department.
In March, Lord Warner was appointed as a special commissioner, reporting to the government, but working with the council to improve services for vulnerable children.
It followed concerns the department might be taken over directly by the government.
The latest inspection, which took place in March and April, identified a number of "serious weaknesses" in the authority's social care provision for young people.
'Entrenched failures''Entrenched failures'
Ofsted criticised the "insufficient focus on children who need help and protection", delays in dealing with cases and "long-standing" leadership issues which affected performance. In December, the council announced a £10m investment in children's services, despite wide-ranging cuts across the rest of the local authority.
"The legacy of poor management and practice in Birmingham Children's Services remain," it said. The funding included 40 new social worker posts, although on 8 May the authority revealed more than 25% of all frontline posts remained unfilled due to ongoing recruitment problems.
Despite plans to improve safeguarding, Ofsted said there was a "significant an unaccountable delay" in implementing them.
"The legacy of poor management and practice in Birmingham Children's Services remain," Ofsted said.
"These failures have become so entrenched that despite recent efforts to improve management practice and outcomes the progress being made to date is too slow and has had little or no impact.""These failures have become so entrenched that despite recent efforts to improve management practice and outcomes the progress being made to date is too slow and has had little or no impact."
The authority underperformed as it struggled to fill frontline social worker posts, Ofsted inspectors found.
But inspectors also said staff reported better morale and reduced caseloads.But inspectors also said staff reported better morale and reduced caseloads.
According to Ofsted's report, between October and January, the cases of 146 children in need were closed "without them having been risk assessed" due to a lack of social workers. However, according to the report, between October and January, the cases of 146 children in need were closed "without them having been risk assessed" due to a lack of social workers.
The department has recently admitted it has continued to struggle to recruit and retain enough trained social workers. Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children and family services, said the council had expected the inadequate rating and had been "very open" about the state of children's services in the city.
'Long way to go'
Brigid Jones, cabinet member for children and family services, said the council had expected the inadequate rating.
"The report's details build on the issues we had recognised ourselves as inadequate practice and which we shared with Ofsted on their arrival," she said."The report's details build on the issues we had recognised ourselves as inadequate practice and which we shared with Ofsted on their arrival," she said.
Head of children's services Peter Hay said the council accepted the issues facing it and had already begun to address them.Head of children's services Peter Hay said the council accepted the issues facing it and had already begun to address them.
Lord Warner, who was appointed external commissioner for Birmingham's children's services in March, said there had been a "good start" on improvements but there was "a long way to go". Lord Warner said there had been a "good start" on improvements but there was "a long way to go".
In a letter to Education Secretary Michael Gove, he said a three-year plan outlining a schedule for improvements would be presented to the Department for Education next month.In a letter to Education Secretary Michael Gove, he said a three-year plan outlining a schedule for improvements would be presented to the Department for Education next month.