Stockport council told to improve after Ofsted finds multiple failings in children’s services
Stockport council has been told to improve after an Ofsted inspection revealed multiple failings in children's services.
The watchdog found concerns in areas such as how the council supports children who are experiencing domestic abuse and neglect, and the experiences of those in care.
Ofsted's report described management oversight in Stockport as 'weak in some key areas of front-line practice.'
Delays were highlighted in some areas of the service, including in holding strategy discussions for some children, and in bringing children into care at the right time.
One part of the inspection gave the council a 'Good' rating for the experiences and progress of care leavers.
The council's overall effectiveness in children's services was judged to be below par, with changes needed to make improvements.
Stockport council is run by the Lib Dems under a minority administration, after it was left under no overall control at the last local elections.
Cllr Wendy Meikle, Stockport council's cabinet member for children, families and education, said: "We fully accept that there are areas where we need to do better.
"We have a clear improvement plan in place and are determined to meet this challenge head-on.
"We're committed to delivering the high-quality support every child and family in Stockport deserves – and with the dedication of our staff and our shared ambition, we're confident we can go further and make lasting improvements."
Council leader Mark Roberts added: "While we're disappointed by the overall judgement, we are fully committed to addressing the areas for improvement with pace and focus – especially at a time when children's services face rising complexity and demand. Ofsted rightly highlights areas where we need to be stronger.
"But they also recognised key strengths – including the Good rating for our care leavers service and our Aspire Service supporting children who are at risk of sexual and criminal exploitation."
Stockport's last full inspection of children's services took place in March 2022, and Ofsted gave the authority a 'Good' rating overall.
Last year, Stockport partnered with Tameside council to help its neighbouring borough improve its children's services after inspectors gave it an inadequate rating.
Since Stockport's last inspection in 2022, Ofsted noted that there has been a 'a continued rise in the demand for children's services, including an increase in complexity.'
The report continued: 'Leaders were not sufficiently sighted on the impact this was having, leading to a deterioration in the quality and impact of support both for children who need help and protection and for those in care.'
On domestic abuse, inspectors found the council's approach was inconsistent.
'Some social workers do not understand the complexities relating to coercive control and fear,' they said in the report.
'As a result, safety planning sometimes relies on victims to protect their children from the people who have abused them.
'Where the specialist domestic abuse team is co-working with vulnerable families, the response to risk and safety planning is stronger.'
Cllr Christine Carrigan, leader of the opposition Labour group in Stockport, said: "We are disappointed by the outcome of this Ofsted inspection. It is concerning that services for some of Stockport's most vulnerable children have slipped from a 'Good' rating and are now judged to require improvement. That is not where we should be.
"While we welcome the recognition of strong practice in areas such as care leavers and early help, the report highlights serious delays and inconsistencies in key areas of safeguarding and care planning. These are not new issues, and it is clear that the pace of change has not been fast enough.
"The council must now act with urgency and transparency to put things right. The Labour group will continue to support improvement where possible, but we will also hold the Liberal Democrat administration to account to ensure that the progress children need is delivered, and delivered quickly."
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