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.
Good leaders are simultaneously culture creators and great managers. They know what systemic good practice looks like, both in principle and in people’s day to day work. They can combine their knowledge of how the system works, and could improve, with strong skills in making every day’s work the best that can be achieved.
We’re approaching the dreaded exam period. Children and young people up and down the country will soon find out whether all their hard work has paid off.
Having been at Ofsted for more than a year, I want to have a conversation about the big issues that social workers and other social care professionals deal with in their working day.