Birmingham set for star showing at last

Birmingham Council could win its first social services star this
year after an inspection of its historically poor performing
children’s social services.

In a report last week, the Commission for Social Care Inspection
says the council has made progress on all the recommendations in a
similar report in 2004.

This includes significantly increasing funding, better partnership
working and improvements in assessments and care planning, though
progress still needs to be made on services for disabled children
and care leavers.

For the first time since the ratings were introduced, Birmingham
has been judged as serving some children well. As in 2004, it has
promising prospects for improvement.

This mirrors its adult services performance in 2004. If this is
maintained the council should gain its first star when the ratings
are announced later this year.