Children’s Services in Waltham Forest rated ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ elements by Ofsted

Following a recent Ofsted inspection, Children’s Services in Waltham Forest received an overall Good assessment rising to Outstanding in the experiences and progress of children in care.

The report, published today (Tuesday 20 August), followed an inspection earlier this year between Monday 1 and Friday 12 July.

The inspectors highlighted that children in the borough “continue to receive good-quality services delivered by knowledgeable and committed social workers.” Of particular note is the Outstanding rating for the experience and progress of children in care. The report sets out that “children in care make significant progress due to the outstandingly coordinated levels of support they receive, whether they live within the borough or further away.”

The full report can be read on the Ofsted website.

Cllr Grace Williams, Leader of the Council, said:

I am very pleased that Ofsted recognises the progress we are making in how we are working to support and care for our children. It’s a real testament to the hard work and dedication of our children service’s team, partners, and the whole council in supporting children and families in our borough.

We play the extremely important role of corporate parent for over 300 children. It’s a responsibility we all take very seriously, so I am particularly proud of the outstanding support children in our care receive. We will remain ambitious and aspirational for every child in our care, so that together we can achieve the outcomes that are right for them.

Recently, we committed to considering care leavers alongside other protected characteristics. This means that, even after children leave our care, our young people will have better opportunities to access employment and housing options helping to improve their lives.

We are determined to address the areas for improvement identified quickly and will continue to strive to provide the best possible support and services for children and their families and carers in Waltham Forest.

The report continues to explain how 

Clear strategic direction, strong partnerships and good political and corporate support have enabled leaders to strengthen the quality of social work practice since the last inspection in 2019. They have embedded relational practice and the use of language that cares into children’s records.

Leaders have successfully increased workforce capacity, which has reduced caseloads for most workers. Children and families benefit from social workers who spend increased time with them, building meaningful relationships and overseeing plans which are purposeful and effective.

Cllr Kizzy Gardiner, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: 

We are committed to ensuring children across Waltham Forest are given every opportunity to thrive in life, and I’m delighted that that this commitment was reflected in the Ofsted report. 

The report highlighted the dedication of social workers who take time to build strong and caring relationships with children and young people, and the positive impact they have on their lives.  

I’d like to thank our hard-working social workers, all social care staff, and partners who strive to put children and their needs at the heart of their work. We are lucky to have such an amazing team helping young people make the very most of their life chances here in Waltham Forest. 

We're always looking for new people to join our children’s social work team and make a real difference at a crucial stage of a child’s life. If you are interested in developing a rewarding career with us in Waltham Forest, we’d like to hear from you.

To see what social work roles are available and apply please visit our Social Work in Waltham Forest web page.