Services for children, families, and those in care have improved in the Steel City since the pandemic began. An Ofsted inspection identified “outstanding” experiences and progress for children living in care.
The regulator handed Sheffield’s Children’s Services its first ever outstanding grade as well as a good grade, in a first inspection in four years.
In a 2019 inspection, Ofsted cited a requirement for improvement in help and protection within Sheffield’s Children’s Services, and has this week outlined a significant improvement in child services.
In a new report published this week, the regulator looked at the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families, the experience of children in care and the progress of care leavers.
Children Services in Sheffield received an outstanding grade for the experience and progress of children in care, alongside a good grade in services for care leavers.
The report highlighted the outstanding service carried out, which results in the life experiences of children significantly improving.
Between the recent inspection and 2019, figures from the Department for Education showed that there were 468 fostered children in Sheffield at the end of March 2021, a total which is the highest for a decade.
A Placement Sufficiency Strategy for looked after children and care leavers from 2021-2023 published by the council in 2021, found that 75% of all looked after children by the council in March 2021 were living in a family setting.
In a letter to children and young people in Sheffield, the regulator said: “Services for children and families in Sheffield have improved since the previous inspection in 2019.
“Services for children in need of help and protection are now good, the experiences of children in care are now outstanding, and services for care leavers are good.”
Praise was also aimed at Senior Leaders in children’s services in the letter.
“Senior leaders know what else they need to do to make sure that services for all children and young people continue to get even better.”
Councillor Dawn Dale, Committee Chair for Education, Children and Families at Sheffield City Council welcomed the news in an online statement.
Cllr Dale said: “We are delighted to be recognised for the outstanding work that we do with children in care.”
“The Ofsted report highlights the strength of our leadership team in Education, Children and Families and our child-focused, stable, consistent, and skilled workforce.”
She praised the cross-party support within the council in allowing the inspection to be a success.
“I am confident that we will continue to improve until all our services provide an outstanding service for children and families in the city.
“We are determined to do this and it’s reassuring for us to know we will be doing that based on this positive, well-received Ofsted outcome.”