I’m delighted to have this opportunity to communicate with you in my new role as Ofsted’s National Director for Social Care. With week 1 under my belt, I’d like to talk a bit about what matters most to me and what my focus will be, moving forward.
Today we published our annual fostering data: ‘Fostering in England – 2016-17’. As ever, we are grateful to all the agencies and local authorities for the time they have taken to collect and share their data with us.
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.