Weaknesses in town's children services - report

The service provided by Brighter Futures for Children includes caring for vulnerable children and arranging school transport

Weaknesses have been found in an organisation's protection of vulnerable children, just months before a council retakes direct control of children's services.

Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) was founded in 2018 after Reading Borough Council's services were rated "inadequate".

The change is due in October, but a joint targeted area inspection published in May found weaknesses in providing support to young victims of domestic abuse.

Executive director of children's services Lara Patel said it had taken "swift action to strengthen our response to domestic abuse in Reading" since the report was published.

"We have put in place robust systems and governance that provides assurance and scrutiny of the child protection system across agencies," she said.

She added the partnership was "determined" to improve "outcomes for all Reading's children".

The services provided by BFfC include caring for vulnerable children, arranging school transport and making education arrangements for children with special needs.

The inspector identified "significant weaknesses" in the multiagency approach to prevention, help and support for children and their families who were victims of domestic abuse in Reading, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It said "many" child victims did not get the service they needed at the right time, and decision-making was "too often delayed based on partial information".

Councillors have agreed to create a Children's Services Improvement Board ahead of the council taking back control.

Reading Borough Council will take over children's services in October

Councillor Rob White, the leader of the opposition, highlighted the joint targeted area inspection at a meeting, accusing the Labour administration of cuts that are making outcomes for families worse.

"In the budget, Labour have cut family help for the last two years, this year by £285,000 and last year by £605,000," he said.

However, Labour councillor Wendy Griffith clarified the cut to family help was filled by the government, allowing the council to make a saving.