Inspection of Part of Milton Keynes Children's Services Has Positive Outcome

9.25.00pm GMT Mon 14th Dec 2009

Government inspectors who carried out an unannounced inspection of the contact, referral and assessment arrangements within Milton Keynes Council Children's Services have reported no areas for priority action. This puts Milton Keynes in the top half of all authorities inspected.

Unannounced inspections are being carried out in all councils' children's social services following the death of Baby Peter in Haringey.

The inspection without prior warning from Ofsted took place on 11 and 12 November. Inspectors sampled the quality and effectiveness of the team's work and the impact it has on minimising child abuse and neglect. Inspectors looked at electronic case records and observed social workers and senior practitioners undertaking referral and assessment duties. They also spoke to a range of staff including managers, social workers, other practitioners and administrative staff.

In a report issued today, inspectors highlighted a number of strengths for the service. They said:

• Robust processes and systems are in place to manage the service ensuring an effective and prompt response to referrals.

• All posts in the Referral and Assessment Team are filled and staff have manageable workloads. Maintaining the team at full strength is a priority for the service.

• Joint working arrangements with the police in investigating child protection concerns are good. Strategy meetings are well attended by agencies and are capably chaired by managers resulting in clear plans for intervention.

• The Council's training programme is comprehensive and responsive to the training needs of social care staff. Training is highly regarded by staff.

• Staff report that they have good access to advice and support from their managers and colleagues.

• The service provides evening and weekend cover which enables high risk cases to be effectively supported out of normal working hours. Feedback from families who have received the service is used to improve it and develop it further.

The report also highlighted some areas for development. These include:

• Developing the understanding of thresholds for referral by partners and more use of the Common Assessment Framework

• Agreeing a protocol with the police to deal with domestic violence incidents

• Improving the quality of core assessments

• Improving staff development with more formal supervision with clear outcomes and decisions.

Liberal Democrat councillor Sandra Clark, the Council's Lead Member for Children, said: "This is a very positive outcome for our service and, more importantly, for children and young people in Milton Keynes. My congratulations to all the staff working in contact, referral and assessment, whose hard work and professionalism support children in need."