I’m pleased to be able to tell readers that Essex County Council’s Conservative administration has been achieved the prized category of Outstanding for their Children’s Services. This is a remarkable feat which was taken Essex into the very top tier of services for young people in England – and one made all the more remarkable by the fact that Essex is the second largest provider of such services in the country.
The inspectors said: “Inspirational leaders, supported by good corporate and political support and strong partnerships, are tenaciously ambitious for children.” And they noted that social workers are “passionate about securing and sustaining improvement” in children’s lives. It was not always thus. In 2010 the council’s service was rated ‘inadequate’ (the lowest rating) – so the journey it has been on has been nothing short of extraordinary. The fact that they have managed to improve services and performance whilst reducing costs is a mark of their professionalism.
As Cllr Dick Madden, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said: “This Outstanding rating is simply the best way to start the New Year. It is a fantastic achievement to all working in children's social care in Essex and I want to say thank you to each and every person who has played a part in making Essex Ofsted Outstanding. The journey to becoming an Outstanding children's social care service has been greatly rewarding. We have invested in our staff, improved practice and developed innovative methods but all the time we have ensured at the heart of everything is the drive to improve the lives of our vulnerable children and their families. I could not be more proud of this achievement. Congratulations to all involved."
As the Gazette goes to press this week we are awaiting the announcement on the Government’s next steps in the Brexit process following the defeat of the Prime Minister’s proposals last week. Having subsequently won a confidence vote in the House of Commons it is right that this Government now brings forward proposals to complete Brexit. These proposals will have been made public on Monday 21 January – I will update you in future weeks as more information becomes available.