Praise for children's services in Shropshire

Services for children and young people in Shropshire have been praised by the government inspection body Ofsted.

In its latest report on services for children, called a Joint Area Review (JAR), it highlights successes including:

• partners’ strong ambition and clear commitment to priorities based on improving outcomes for children and young people;
• arrangements for safeguarding children and young people;
• outcomes for looked after children and young people;
• partnership working between social care, education and health services for children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; and
• engagement and participation of children and young people in decision making is very good, including those from vulnerable groups.

For the future, Ofsted says the capacity to improve further is ‘good’ and the recommendations it has made are now being developed into a formal action plan which will help set priorities and activities for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Ann Hartley, Cabinet member for children’s services said: “I am very proud of the quality of services provided to our children young people, families and carers and the role played by the Council and its partners in delivering those services."

She added: “This inspection recognises that partners across children’s services are working hard together to improve outcomes for our children and young people. It shows that our approach is having a real impact and that we are well placed to continue this. We will learn from the positives in the report and the areas where we know we can do more so that we use it to help us meet the needs of everyone growing up in Shropshire."

22 July 2008