Children’s services deputy quits after Ofsted criticism

The deputy director of children and young people’s services at Waltham Forest has left the council after an Ofsted report exposed safeguarding failings.

Among the transgressions were incidences of staff treating referrals as initial assessments rather than child protection enquiries.

Linda Cointepas left by mutual consent, according to council documents. An emergency meeting of the authority’s staffing committee today will appoint her replacement.

An Ofsted report revealed children were at risk of inadequate protection in a “significant proportion” of recent cases.

The report followed an unannounced inspection of Waltham Forest’s children and young people’s services in June when a “significant proportion” of children were found to be at risk of inadequate protection. This was a result of cases being closed before thorough checks and risk assessments had been carried out.

The planning and analysis of emerging risks in cases where children were subject to child protection enquiries was also found to be sub-standard, while staff failed to make children and young people aware of the risks posed to them and other children.

“As a result, protection plans were inadequate, leaving [children and young people] at continued risk of harm. Management oversight of this work was poor and failed to remedy these significant weaknesses,” Ofsted stated in a letter to Waltham Forest’s director of children’s services, Chris Kiernan.

Community Care is awaiting a response from Waltham Forest Council.

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