Children's services show signs of improvement

Ofsted inspectors said children were now "better safeguarded"

Children's services in North East Lincolnshire have improved, an inspection has found.

This was the seventh monitoring visit since the local authority was judged inadequate by Ofsted in October 2021.

Inspectors had previously highlighted that children in many cases had to deal with multiple changes in social workers.

The watchdog said an increase in staff numbers now means young people are "better safeguarded and benefit from greater consistency of worker".

"Children are now experiencing fewer changes of social worker and are having the opportunity to build a trusting relationship with the same professional," inspectors said.

The report said the council had made the area "a more attractive place to work" and permanent staff numbers had risen from 30% to 70%.

"Newer workers told inspectors that they chose North East Lincolnshire because they are excited by the noticeable changes and want to be part of the improvements for children," the report said.

Other improvements noted included a reduction in workers' caseloads allowing them "more time to assess children’s needs and understand risks more thoroughly and sooner".

"This is leading to more children and their families receiving the right level of help and support when they need it," the report added.

This was the seventh Ofsted visit since the authority was judged inadequate in 2021

Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for children and education, said she was reassured by the consistent improvement.

“Ofsted have made it clear that North East Lincolnshire is seeing good progress being made in how we support our children and families," she said.

“We know that there is continuous need for development that we are working on every day, but one of the things that the inspectors commented on was our own self-assessment – that we know where these areas are and that we have plans to continue to improve."

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