Herefordshire Council is struggling to tackle long-standing problems in its children’s department, according to a commissioner.
Eleanor Brazil was appointed in 2022 to investigate the department’s failings and propose solutions, after Ofsted rated them as inadequate.
Its latest report concludes that “some positive progress has been made from a very low level, although not enough to bring about the degree of change needed”.
“The council has consistently failed to address the issues quickly and with clear direction and leadership, so everything has taken too long,” she wrote.
Ms Brazil added that support from government and other local authorities, as well as additional funding, had delivered “different impacts and success”, while recruitment and retention of staff “remains a major concern”.
The report details that the number of children in care in the province is now closer to that of other similar authorities, while planned savings in agency staffing and placement costs have been achieved.
Eleanor Brazil said recruiting remains a major problem [BBC]
Progress in special educational needs provision “is more positive, driven by greater leadership, focus and direction,” Brazil said.
She praised the “greater precision and drive” of Tina Russell, who was appointed in the spring to replace outgoing department head Darryl Freeman.
The publication of her report coincides with the latest report of Ofsted monitoring visits, the fifth of its kind since the ‘inadequate’ rating.
This time inspectors focused on how the council protects vulnerable children from ‘extra-familial risks’ and found ‘early signs of improvement’ under a new plan implemented by Ms Russell.
The department team responsible “works effectively and reduces risks to many children who are vulnerable to or at risk of exploitation”, although some complex cases “experience delays in effective intervention”, inspectors concluded.
Ivan Powell, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “We are very pleased that both reports recognize positive signs of improvement.
“We realize we still have some work to do, but we are in a significantly better place than we were two years ago.”
This news was collected by the Local Democracy Reporting Servicewhich includes municipalities and other public service organizations.
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