Kevin FitzpatrickGreater Manchester political reporter
PAChildren’s services in Manchester have been rated as “outstanding” by inspectors, with the city council named as the first in the north-west of England to achieve such an accolade.
Services in Manchester have gradually improved since 2014 when they were branded “inadequate” by Ofsted.
Following the regulator’s latest inspection, “exemplary” social workers in the city were praised for their “compassion and care”.
The city council said services had been transformed as a result of “concerted investment, innovation and strong political and managerial leadership”.
‘Compassion and care’
Ofsted inspectors spent three weeks in September and October assessing Manchester’s children’s services.
They concluded that the department’s overall effectiveness was “outstanding”.
The top grade was also given for the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families, the experience and progress of children in care, and the experience of care leavers.
Support for children in need of help and protection, meanwhile, was judged to be “good”.
Manchester’s Complex Safeguarding Hub, where social workers sit alongside police and health professionals, was singled out as “exemplary” for the way in which children at risk of sexual and other criminal exploitation were treated with “compassion and care”.
Manchester City Council’s overall Ofsted rating following its previous inspection in 2022 was “good”.
‘Engaged and positive team’
Council Leader Bev Craig said: “Our children deserve the best and I’m proud that Manchester City Council has become the first council in the North West to get an ‘outstanding’ verdict on our children’s services.
“We have worked hard to transform our children’s services and I’m pleased Ofsted have found that they are among the best in the country.”
Craig added: “Providing the best quality children’s services – from safeguarding the most vulnerable to giving children the best start in life – is a huge priority for our city.”
Councillor Julie Reid, executive member for early years, children and young people, said: “Social workers don’t often get the praise they deserve, but this inspection report shows the positive difference which they can make to children’s lives.
“It describes an engaged and positive team who build purposeful relationships to help them make the best decisions for, and with, children and their families.
“I want to thank, and congratulate, everyone who has worked so hard to get us to this point. It hasn’t been easy but it’s been immensely worthwhile.”
