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Former chief inspector of social services Denise Platt

One in five local authorities is providing inadequate children’s services, the annual report of the chief inspector of social services has revealed, writes Derren Hayes.

The 12th and final annual report before the SSI is subsumed into the Commission for Social Care Inspection next year shows that 20 per cent of councils were serving only some children well or were not serving any children well and had a poor or uncertain capacity for improvement.

The figures, from a self-audit carried out following the publication of the Victoria Climbie Inquiry report in January, show that only 53 per cent of councils were serving most or all children well and had promising or excellent capacity for improvement.

Overall the audit identified that, compared to 2002’s refreshed social services star ratings, the performance of children’s services had improved in 63 councils, stayed unchanged in 53 and deteriorated in 27. However, the report highlights that the audits focused on children in need and child protection, while November’s ratings looked at wider children’s services.

Workforce issues are a recurring theme throughout former chief inspector Denise Platt’s report. “It is clear there are not enough people in the system to do all that is required of the service,” it said.

Platt has now left her post as chief inspector to become the shadow chairperson of the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

The report also highlighted a 27 per cent rise in the number of people with physical disabilities receiving direct payments; that the views of black and ethnic minority groups are not being listened to in planning mental health services; and that 83 per cent of councils have agreed local plans for using Health Act flexibilities in developing services for adults with learning disabilities.

Modern Social Services: A Commitment to the Future  - the chief inspector's 12th annual report