Northamptonshire County Council 'failing to keep children safe'

Inspectors have found Northamptonshire County Council is failing to protect children in its care.

An inspection of children’s social care services in Northamptonshire was carried out by Ofsted in June.

The report found “Northamptonshire’s children’s services are failing to keep children safe.”

• Click below to hear from Sally Hodges, Director of Children’s Services at Northamptonshire County Council

The overall effectiveness of Northamptonshire's children's services was judged as inadequate.

Issues highlighted by the Ofsted inspection include:

• There are highly vulnerable children in care who are living in unregulated placements that are unsafe and unsuitable.

• A small cohort of care leavers are vulnerable and homeless, and services have failed to prevent these young people from remaining in unsuitable and unsafe circumstances.

• The quality of support for vulnerable children in Northamptonshire has declined since the last full inspection in 2016.

Director of Children’s Services at Northamptonshire County Council, Sally Hodges, said: “We accept the findings of this Ofsted inspection report entirely.

"We recognise the failings that inspectors have highlighted and equally have a determination to build on the signs of progress they have identified.

“We welcome the report’s finding that there has been clear progress andimprovements made since the focused visit last October.

"We are also pleased they recognise that we now have in place the right plans to improve our services.

"The leadership team is determined to do just that as recognised in the report. Children in Northamptonshire deserve nothing less.”

Cabinet member for Children Services Cllr Fiona Baker said: “It is regrettable that our services overall have been graded as inadequate but it is a grading we agree with and we are determined to tackle the weaknesses identified.

"It is clear from this report that we increasingly have the determination, plans and leadership in place to begin to make real and lasting improvements.

“It is very welcome that the report states we have a good understanding of our own weaknesses and therefore a clear view on what is required to address these.”