SERVICES for vulnerable children in Middlesbrough must still make improvements after being rated "inadequate".
The Middlesbrough Council-run service has been trying to make improvements since last year after Ofsted found “serious and widespread weaknesses” following an inspection in December 2019.
The service is being monitored by the watchdog, which today reported two additional areas that needed to be improved.
READ MORE: Middlesbrough Council will keep contol of inadequate children's services
It said more work needed to be done to ensure vulnerable children and children in care, including those with special educational needs, receive their full educational entitlement.
More also needs to be done to understand the identity and diverse needs of children and their families.
Ofsted carried out their focused inspection in May.
READ MORE: Middlesbrough Children's Services 'inadequate' says Ofsted
A number of areas of improvement were noted by the team of five inspectors, including the council’s swift response to the Covid-19 pandemic, with children seen regularly and safely throughout.
Social workers were found to be "creative and persistent" - an approach the inspectors found to be "demonstrably making a difference" to children’s lives.
Their letter said: "Children are seen regularly, and throughout the pandemic social workers have taken into account specific Covid-19 safety plans when planning their visits.
"Some social workers are creative and persistent in their engagement with children, despite the restrictions imposed by lockdown measures. This direct work with children is demonstrably making a difference to their lives."
However, the quality of social workers’ assessments of children’s needs still varies.
Plans for children that are made following an assessment of need also vary in quality.
Children-in-need plans are not regularly updated and lack clear timescales, which hinders the monitoring of children’s progress.
And the lack of contingency planning in some children’s cases means that social work practice is crisis-driven, leading to unnecessary escalation of risks for children.
The Multi Agency Children’s Hub – many children’s first point of contact with the service – has also continued to strengthen.
Demand has continued to increase steadily over the past year with just under half of referrals coming from the police. Half of these referrals meet the threshold for care.
Sue Butcher, Middlesbrough Council’s director of children’s services, said: “Our vision couldn’t be clearer - to show Middlesbrough children that they matter.
“The last year has been exceptionally challenging for everybody, but staff at every level have worked with immense dedication and professionalism to ensure that we continue to make the improvements required of us.
“This report shows we’re moving in the right direction - we’re fully committed to carrying on with that journey, and helping all young people look forward to a bright future.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Andy Preston said “We are making progress and I’m pleased that’s been acknowledged by Ofsted, but that’s no cause for complacency.
“We remain absolutely committed to providing the highest quality of service to the children and young people of Middlesbrough.
“We’re really open, honest and realistic about the challenge ahead of us and we’ll always be receptive to the feedback Ofsted provide.
“This latest report is clear on our progress and also the issues we need to address.
“There is a long way to go but we’re heading in the right direction. Staff in children’s services are working their socks off to provide the service our town deserves.
“I’m confident that Ofsted will see further improvement the next time they visit, either virtually or in person.”
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