Eleanor Schooling is National Director, Social Care on a temporary basis from September 2015.
Eleanor was Corporate Director of Children’s Services, London Borough of Islington and is involved in many activities outside of her present role:
•London Safeguarding Board DCS and Adviser on Sector Led Improvement
•Vice Chair Association of London Directors of Children’s Services, Sector Led Improvement Lead
•National Chair Standards Performance and Inspection Committee, ADCS
•Director of Schools, Cambridge Education@Islington
Eleanor was awarded the CBE in June 2016 for services to children and families.
This week I went to the National Learning Conference, part of the Government’s Social Work Innovation Programme - a great event to be part of.
In September 2017, Ofsted, along with fellow inspectorates for health, police and probation, published a joint report about domestic abuse.
At Ofsted, we have been clear about what needs to improve in local authority children’s services departments.
What will ILACS mean for local authority children’s services? Well first and foremost, I believe this is a step forward for inspection that will make a genuine and positive impact on children’s lives.
It’s National Care Leavers week (25 October – 03 November), a great campaign that quite rightly focuses the attention of professionals and politicians on this important group of young people.
Back in 2010 Professor Eileen Munro said that social workers have one of the most difficult jobs in the world.
Let's talk some numbers. Domestic abuse claims the lives of 2 women a week. There are an estimated 6.5 million adults who have suffered domestic abuse. And police in England recorded 421,000 domestic abuse crimes last year.
Children’s homes play such an important part in some children’s lives. So I want to talk to you today about the fact that there are many homes that are doing a fantastic job for children. Earlier this year, Ofsted visited a children’s home in the North West. Four children who have emotional and behavioural problems live there.
Most of us who work in children’s services recognise that there have to be national standards for children in care.
It’s been said that that achieving an outstanding rating at a first inspection is impossible. In fact, in 2013/14 Ofsted judged six per cent of children's homes to be outstanding at their first inspection. That proportion rose to 12 per cent in 2015/16.