Ofsted visit highlights progress in Children’s Services

Ofsted has published the findings of its latest monitoring visit of Children’s Services at Liverpool City Council.

The inspection, which took place in March 2025, focused on:

•  Response to children at risk from exploitation or going missing from home or care, including assessment and planning for those children.

• Response to disabled children, including assessment and planning for those children.

• Supervision of social workers.

It found that there has been a significant improvement in the response to disabled children since March 2023, which caseloads for social workers reduced by half and increased management capacity in the team.

They report that disabled children “now benefit from thorough assessments and plans which support them and their families effectively” with risks “promptly recognised and responded to”, and social workers devoting time to “sensitively communicating with children to understand their wishes and feelings”.

They also note that the immediate response to children who go missing from home or care has also improved, noting that social workers are “persistent in their efforts to talk to children when they return home, to explore why they went missing” and that this information is used to try and reduce the risk of children going missing again.

They also found that leaders are working at pace to address issues with children at risk not always being promptly identified and referred by partner agencies, with work under way on developing a more coordinated approach to enable earlier intervention and support for vulnerable children at risk of exploitation.

They concluded that timely action is usually taken to protect children at risk of exploitation and criminality, and work is under way to address the small number of strategy discussions that are delayed.

There is also praise for children and family assessments, which “have improved in quality”, with partner agencies contributing well to them and “children’s wishes and views are sensitively sought and considered by social workers, who take the time and effort to truly know and understand children’s needs”.]

They also found “some improvement” in the quality of child in need and children protection plans, although the understanding and analysis of risks is described as “variable”.

Other improvements noted include:

• Case supervision is starting to improve in quality and is now more reflective and focuses on children’s experiences, with management training  starting to have a positive impact.

• Regular and detailed reporting to the improvement board and scrutiny committee is providing the necessary challenge to drive improvement plans forward.

The inspection also noted that staff told inspectors that there have been “significant improvements” over the last two years, with reduced caseloads and social workers feeling safer and better able to deliver quality social work.

Ofsted said: “They welcome improved communication from leaders about plans, and value the regular employee forum and the two-way communication it facilitates. Social workers say they feel happy, motivated and well supported in their work in Liverpool, describing themselves as ‘being part of a family’.”

Councillor Liz Parsons, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “This monitoring visit highlights the progress we have made over the last two years, and that we are addressing areas that need improvement.

“Our staff are absolutely committed to delivering the very best services for children and young people in Liverpool, and I would like to thank them for their hard work which is making a positive difference to the lives of the most vulnerable every single day.

“Improving Children’s Services is a journey that takes time, and our ambition is to get to a position where we are delivering an outstanding service, as well as becoming a UNICEF Child Friendly City putting young people at the forefront of decision making. I firmly believe we are on track to achieve both.”

The full report can be read here.