North Tyneside Council’s children’s services have been rated ‘outstanding’ for the second time since 2020.
Following an Ofsted inspection into the local authority’s children’s services, conducted between November 11 and 15 last year, the council has retained its ‘uutstanding’ grade. Inspectors upgraded the council’s work with children in care and care leavers from its 2020 grade of ‘good’ to ‘outstanding’ this time around.
Inspectors found children in need are offered “high-quality services that improve their lives, whatever the level of their need, vulnerability or risk”. Where a child’s need for support escalates, Ofsted’s report praised the council’s “highly effective and timely response”.
The local authority’s social workers were also dubbed “aspirational” for the children in their care. In addition, according to Ofsted, children living in residential homes experience “good-quality” care and support.
Inspectors also noted that the local authority doubled the number of in-house and local homes for children in need. The number of council-owned supported accommodation also means more kids can live in their own communities, close to family networks where appropriate.
Ofsted also found that young adults and children leaving care also benefit from “stable and enduring” relationships with their personal advisers.
Dame Norma Redfearn, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, said: “I can’t say enough about how proud I am of each and every colleague involved in this amazing achievement. We know just how brilliant the support we offer children is, but to once again hear from Ofsted just how lifechanging our services for children are, is not something I will ever take for granted.
“The inspectors talk about just how passionate and skilled our colleagues are, how they show unwavering commitment to those they support, and I am pleased that they were able to see what we see every single day -a service that really, truly cares.
“This result does not just belong to us. Supporting children to this standard is not possible alone. Our colleagues could not do what they do without our carers, schools, the local police, youth services, health and all of our partners– thank you to them all too.”
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