Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, introduced the second item, which outlined the ongoing preparations for the upcoming OFSTED Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services (ILACS). Officers are fully prepared for the inspection and are anticipating the arrival.

Susannah Beasley-Murray, Director of Children’s Services, noted that Tower Hamlets Council are the last London authority not to have had an inspection. Details of the two week process were then outlined to Members. This includes the initial OFSTED call on a Monday to initiate the inspection for the following week, the collation of required documents and data for an online audit meeting and finally the inspection itself, where four inspectors will arrive. Members were informed that the inspection will only take two weeks as Tower Hamlets were rated Good at the 2019 inspection, rather than three weeks for local authorities rated inadequate or requiring improvement.

The inspection will also involve discussions with social workers, early help practitioners and partners regarding the quality of work and how it is divided by each area. The main areas of focus will be:

-      The experiences and progress of children who need help and protection, including early help and safeguarding.

-      The experiences and progress of children in care.

-      The progress of care leavers.

-      The corporate and political leadership for children in care.

Ms Beasley-Murray then outlined the practice framework and the vision for the service, which is that the best place for children is to be raised within their own families, intermediate or wider whenever it is safe to do so. Tower Hamlets has less children in care than other local authorities and staff have manageable caseloads, which enables greater outcomes for children and  families.

Members then heard details of the service strengths, including workforce excellence, the ‘Better Together’ practice framework with partners and staff, a supportive and challenging cultural approach to care, a strong and effective leadership and a focus on early intervention. Areas of focus remain combating domestic abuse, safeguarding harm outside the home and neglect within it and also strengthening partnerships with other organisations.

Ms Beasley-Murray then observed the ongoing support for career development of black and global majority professionals, the transition to adulthood for care leavers, children with SEND and with mental health concerns. All inspections from other local authorities are reviewed to understand and improve on some of the themes noted. This includes how young carers are supported, the issues facing 16-17 year old homeless residents, unregulated placements and the exploitation and missing children, to name a few.

Members were informed of the Annual Engagement meeting with a senior OFSTED Inspector and Local Authority staff earlier this year in March, in which the updated self-evaluation was presented. No significant concerns were raised and it was stated that this upcoming ILACS inspection would be short. Ms Beasley-Murray reminded the sub-committee on the previous Peer Reviews held in 2023 and earlier this year, where Mark Riddell, Government Advisor on Care Leavers, noted the service progress as aspirational.

Details of the updated improvement plan were outlined as were the five key priorities:

-      Providing effective help and protection.

-      Helping, supporting and protecting adolescents.

-      Improving the experience and progress of children we care for and for those leaving care.

-      Making good decisions, understanding learning and achieving consistency

-      Leadership and governance that promotes a high support, high challenge culture.

These are monitored by the Children’s Service Continuous Improvement Board who review all data and spotlight any key concerns. Fortnightly meetings on inspection preparation, called ‘Better Together’ meetings are held to focus on continual improvement delivery are also conducted, as well as  a staff audit programme for different areas of the service and monthly performance surgeries.

Data of unaccompanied asylum seeking children, were also outlined, as were the performance data on Children cared for during August 2024.

Further to  questions from the sub-committee, the Officers;

·       Explained that the legislation changes related to supported living accommodation now means that 16-17 year olds are required to be OFSTED regulated. Providers had to register by October end and 26 children who were not fully registered have now been reviewed by independent Officers, social workers and Heads of service.

·       Confirmed that the numbers of care leavers employed by the Council through apprenticeships will be forwarded to the sub-committee outside of this meeting.

·       Clarified that the positive partnership with the Children's Safeguarding Board and representation from a senior health colleagues, the Police and the Borough Commander, ensures all agencies work together in the right way to safeguard children. The Annual Children’s Safeguarding Report will be forwarded to the sub-committee for review.

·       Noted that an internal Neglect Toolkit has been developed for staff to assess and intervene with families where there are cases of child neglect. This is a multi-agency toolkit for health professionals, staff working with children and the Police.

·       Explained that ongoing work with the Sunrise Child Sexual Abuse Hub takes place and staff are trained to be advocates for children where there have been allegations of child sexual abuse. Reports are lower than most local authorities with three cases in the last six months.

·       Confirmed that the Strategic Exploitation Board, support workers specialising in child exploitation and the police work together to explore the themes and reduce the number of children who are missing or at risk of exploitation. The data is submitted at monthly meetings.

·       Explained that the Children's Partnership includes the voluntary sector, an Interfaith Coordinator and a Tower Hamlets designated Officer who are all available to give the community a greater understanding of child harm. Partner training on harm outside the home and contextual safeguarding also takes place.

The Sub-Committee RESOLVED:

1.    That details of the number of Care Leavers employed by the Council through apprenticeship programmes to be circulated to the sub-committee.

2.    That the Annual Children’s Safeguarding Report will be forwarded to the sub-committee for review.

3.    That the presentation be noted.