Blog Ofsted: social care

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.

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.

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.