The council was praised for its “improved” services and its “focus” on improving children’s outcomes, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Barnet Council's Colindale office — Barnet Council’s Colindale office

Ofsted has rated Barnet Council’s children’s services as ‘good’ in four out of five areas of inspection criteria, with progress of children in care reported as ‘outstanding’.

The inspection took place in June, and the council was praised for its “improved” services and its “focus” on improving children’s outcomes.

For four out of five of the inspected areas the council was rated ‘good’.

These were the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families; the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection; the experiences and progress of care leavers; and overall effectiveness.

The fifth area, experiences and progress of children in care, was rated ‘outstanding’.

Ofsted’s inspection letter stated children in Barnet received “strong and effective” services.

The watchdog wrote: “A stable and committed leadership team has continued to strengthen and enhance social work practice since the previous inspection in 2019.”

The report was noted by councillors during a council meeting yesterday (Tuesday 15th).

Pauline Coakley-Webb, cabinet member for family friendly Barnet, said: “This really is a positive story for what has happened with our young people and the staff that look after them, it was something we were expecting but as with schools it’s viewed with some trepidation.”

She congratulated the staff and said the results were a “credit” to the service.

“It’s been committed and verified by the Ofsted report that we’re still on the right route to get better and better in everything we do for our young people,” Cllr Coakley-Webb added.

Four areas were highlighted in the letter as needing improvement. These were return home interviews which inform the safety plans for children who go missing; communication about living arrangements for care leavers; timeliness of early help support; and the management oversight of the local authority designated officer.

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