Issue details

Adoption of an Improvement Plan for Children's Services

Following the Ofsted inspection of the County Council’s Children’s Social Care Services in February-March 2019, an ‘inadequate’ judgement was given in Ofsted’s report published on 8 May 2019. 

 

In responding to the judgement, the County Council must prepare an improvement plan that demonstrates its capability and capacity to improve children’s services to a satisfactory standard. The plan now presented for adoption is known as the Children First Practice Improvement Plan; this reflects the ambition to make the experiences and the voice of the child central to the future delivery of all children’s services.

 

It is supported by an investment plan which identifies the resources required to deliver the requirements of the improvement plan.

 

Following approval for the adoption of the Plan, it will be submitted to the Department for Education.  This will lead to a process, described in the report, which will determine whether or not the County Council should retain responsibility for the direct provision of Children’s Social Care Services.

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 division;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 30/05/2019

Decision due: August 2019 by Cabinet Member for Children and Young People (Cllr Jacquie Russell)

Lead member: Councillor Paul Marshall paul.marshall@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Garath Symonds, Senior Improvement Lead Email: garath.symonds@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 22511.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member, via one of the listed officer contacts, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

Consultees

Improvement Board

Children and Young People’s Services Select Committee – 19 June 2019 and 17 July 2019

Health and Wellbeing Board

Corporate Parenting Panel

Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders - 033 022 22553

Background3: Best Start in Life

Decisions

Background papers