Ofsted ‘Good’ rating for Hackney’s Children’s Services

Support for vulnerable children and their families has “greatly improved” in Hackney, according to Ofsted inspectors, as they awarded the Council’s children’s services a ‘Good’ rating following an inspection in July. 

The inspection, which looked at how the Council keeps vulnerable children safe, and supports them and their families get the help they need, highlighted the way the Council has responded to the significant challenges from recent years, such as the 2020 cyber-attack, the disproportionate effect that Covid-19 had on Black and global majority residents and staff, and the impact of the unjust treatment of Child Q on the borough.

Ofsted inspectors praised professional and political leaders who “have responded successfully to these challenges, prioritising children’s needs, increasing engagement with all Hackney communities, including the large Charedi community, strengthening strategic partnerships and significantly improving children’s services’.

The inspection took place over three weeks in July, with six inspectors rigorously reviewing data and reports, visiting the Council’s premises, looking at individual cases and speaking with children and staff. 

The inspectors found that children and families are supported well by early help workers, who work together with statutory, community and voluntary sector partners to find timely solutions that are culturally specific and sensitive to their needs. Social workers conduct regular visits to get to know children and their families, encouraging them to work together to sort out problems, and are quick to act to keep children safe. 

Children that need to move into care are placed in good, stable homes, and feel safe, happy and understood, enjoying school and a wide range of interests and hobbies. Children who have experienced trauma or have complex needs benefit from specialist care and therapeutic support from Hackney’s in-house clinical services. Foster carers and their children have access to support groups that offer training opportunities and time with other carers and children.

Social workers listen to children and young people and ensure that they have a say in the decisions that affect them. Children are supported to remain within their family networks where possible, and strong processes are in place to ensure children leaving care continue to be supported. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in care are well supported by knowledgeable workers who seek to understand the impact of their past experiences and trauma. 

Many care leavers have positive and trusting relationships with their social workers and advisors, and are supported in following their goals. The children in care council, “Hackney of Tomorrow”, brings together care experienced children and young people to share their stories and help shape the future of the service. 

Inspectors praised the work of leaders and practitioners to address structural racism, working together with partner agencies to help them better understand the needs, trauma and systems that affect children and their families. 

The Council’s efforts will continue to ensure that further improvements are made in particular to the experiences and progress of care leavers as they move into adulthood, especially when it comes to strengthening the consistency of support to care leavers and securing good-quality and stable accommodation for them. 

View the full inspection report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/44/80496

We were delighted to see that Ofsted inspectors found our Children’s Services to be good, recognising the progress made in the last years, despite the many challenges that the borough continues to face. We’re especially pleased that inspectors highlighted our focus and commitment to our systemic, trauma-informed and anti-racist model of social care.

“We are incredibly proud of our staff, all of whom have worked tirelessly to achieve this result.

“We are grateful for the feedback from inspectors about areas for improvement, and we will continue to work to address the challenges that our care leavers face and do everything in our power to support them as they begin their independent journeys.

“This follows our earlier commitment to continue to offer support and guidance to care leavers, and to find practical solutions to offer more support that can smoothen their transition into adulthood.

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Deputy Mayor of Hackney