SPECIALIST children’s services have been identified as suffering from ‘fundamental weakness’ in leadership, an independent watchdog has reported.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission conducted a joint inspection of the local area of Middlesbrough over a four-day period in March.

As a result of the inspection a number of recommendations have been made to improve the delivery of services for young people with disabilities and special educational needs.

Reforms were not implemented effectively but young people felt “safe and well supported”, the report said.

The report highlighted several problems including:

  • there are fundamental weaknesses in the strategic leadership, governance and implementation of the disability and special educational needs reforms in the local area
  • children, young people and families have too little involvement in discussion and decision-making about the services and support they need.
  • the local offer is poor and, as a result, children, young people and families have a weak understanding of the resources and support available in Middlesbrough.

Now, the local area is required to produce and submit a Written Statement of Action to Ofsted that explains how they will tackle areas of significant weakness.

Her Majesty’s Inspectors from Ofsted has ruled that the local authority and the area’s clinical commissioning group are jointly responsible for compiling the action plan.

The report outlines that one parent told inspectors: “All I want is for people to ask how my child is, which is rare, listen to me and do what they say they will do.”

According to the report, children and young people in the schools and settings visited by inspectors expressed that they feel ‘safe and well supported’.

There were also strengths identified in the service including that the needs of young children are identified in a timely and effective way and health visitors provide targeted development reviews for three-year-olds and, in addition, run clinics for young children jointly with physiotherapists.

In a joint statement, Middlesbrough Council and South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group said: “Working with children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities requires all relevant agencies to work together.

“Partners across education, health and social care in Middlesbrough acknowledge the issues highlighted in the report and are fully committed to working together to devise and implement an action plan to improve provision and outcomes for these children and young people within the local area.

“We are pleased to note that the inspectors highlighted the commitment of front line professionals working together to improve outcomes for children and young people who have special educational needs and/or disabilities.”