Bromley’s Children Services has seen a remarkable turnaround after receiving an overall rating of ‘Good’ in its latest Ofsted report, with the impact of the new leadership team noted as being ‘Outstanding’.
Just two years ago Bromley’s Children’s Services was rated ‘Inadequate’ across the board. Since then, a range of measures have been introduced and the council has now been rated as ‘Good’ in the following areas: ‘The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection’; ‘The experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers’ and ‘Overall effectiveness’.
The report stated that: “The new and highly experienced senior leadership team has driven a rapid and sustained pace of improvement, supported by a whole-council investment in children’s services.
“This has led to vastly improved services for children and families. The executive director and his team, together with strong corporate support from members, have ensured an unwavering focus on continuous improvement.
“Staff at every level have high aspirations for the children who receive services in Bromley. Children who need help and protection receive good-quality help and support. Early help and family support services are highly effective.
“Workers are skilled and creative, ensuring that children are at the heart of assessments and plans. This leads to dynamic and proportionate plans, and interventions that improve outcomes.”
Bromley Council’s executive member for children and families, councillor Peter Fortune, said: “I am extremely proud of this absolutely remarkable achievement. This improvement in such a short space of time has simply never been achieved by any other local authority.
“To go from where Bromley children’s services were two years ago when Ofsted judged them inadequate to a position of strength with ‘Outstanding’ leadership, and a ‘Good’ overall rating across all services is unheard of in this time frame.
“I commend the new leadership of our children’s services under interim chief executive Ade Adetosoye OBE, as well as councillors, staff and our partners who have shown such unflinching dedication to the young people of our borough over this period.”