Trafford Children's Services receives 'devastating' OFSTED inspection result

An OFSTED report into Children's Services in Trafford has been published today.  OFSTED scored Trafford Council's services in four areas -  The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families, the experiences of children who need help and protection, the experiences of children living in care; and the experience of care leavers.  

Trafford received the following grades: 

The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families - Inadequate 
The experiences of children who need help and protection - Inadequate 

The experiences of children living in care - Good 

The experience of care leavers - Requires Improvement to be good 

Responding to the publication of OFSTED's report, Trafford Liberal Democrat Leader councillor Shaun Ennis said, "This is a devastating outcome for Trafford and it's deeply concerning for families and young people to hear that the council is falling short of the level of care it should be providing." 

"There are clearly many areas where improvements have to be made and it is for the Labour leadership to very clearly set out their plan to do that." 

"Whilst the Liberal Democrats will continue to hold the ruling group to account, we are also clear that staff on the ground across our children's services are being tasked with the impossible.  Trafford is a critically underfunded council.  The money that the government gives us does not match the cost of the services we are required to provide.  Ultimately, the buck stops with the new Prime Minister, who knows better than most the dire financial challenges that Trafford is facing and who has it very much in his power to change things."  

Deputy Lib Dem Leader councillor Will Frass said, "With a Labour Government and a majority Labour Trafford Council at the same time, for over two years now - it beggars belief that we are still among the lowest funded Metropolitan Boroughs in the country.  The new 'fair' funding for Councils has actually taken away more from Trafford Council than ever - meanwhile Councils that score highly on the Government's tick-list are adding millions to their unused reserves in their swollen coffers.  Meanwhile, Children's Services in Trafford are left underfunded and in decline."