Halton Inspection Planning -Journey of the Child Unannounced

Ofsted Inspection

Mark GradyPrincipal Policy Officer, Children &

Enterprise

Background

• Halton was last inspected in February 2011 – rated ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ across all 22 judgements.

• Intention was for a multi-agency Framework from 2013.• April 2013 – Ofsted announced plans for a single combined

framework• September 2013 – Final guidance published• November 2013 – Launch of the new framework

Basis of new Framework – Munro Review

• Critical of target driven performance management• Emphasis on professional expertise • Focus on early help• Troubled Families (Inspiring Families)• Supporting effective practice/supervision • Strengthening accountabilities • Child's perspective and journey through the system • Outcomes focus (how do we know it's better?)

Inspection will be unannounced

• 7 inspectors• Telephone call the night before arrive on site.• Duration of 1 month – equates to 11 days on site.• 3 inspectors in week 1.• 7 inspectors from week 2.

Practice Review

• Team of 16 multi-agency inspectors, led by respected independent consultant reviewed Halton’s services in July 2013.

• 4 day inspection, involved assessing almost 100 case files.

• Findings are informing inspection planning.• Project plans in place to direct work within

inspection planning structures.

Single Framework

• Will be known as – ‘Inspection of services for children in need of help

and protection, children looked after and care leavers’ (ISCNHPCLACL)

– Ofsted are referring to it as SIF – Single Inspection Framework

– In Halton we are using ‘HIP’ branding – Halton Inspection Planning for what is to be known locally as the ‘Journey of the Child Inspection’

Focus and Scope

• Focus - children and young people’s own experiences• Scope - children and young people who are:

– at risk of harm – covers both Early Help and Child in Need (Levels 2 and 3 of Levels of Need Framework, see overleaf).

– in need of protection and provided with a multi-agency child protection plan

– no longer needing a child protection plan but still require some help and support

– in need of CSC support but below the significant harm and looked after thresholds

– Missing from education or offered alternative provision– looked after or care leavers

Halton Levels of Need Framework

Key Judgements

The overall effectiveness of services and arrangements will be derived from 3 key judgements:

•protecting children•looked after children and achieving permanence •leadership, management and governance

Graded Judgements

The inspection will also include graded judgements:

•adoption•care leavers

• effectiveness of the Halton Safeguarding Children Board (guidance to follow)

Judgement Scale

A new 4-point judgement scale will be introduced that removes the ‘adequate’ grading

•inadequate •requires improvement (to be good)•good•outstanding

Inspection will Evaluate

• The impact of the help given• The focus on the interests of the child• Inter-agency working• Meaningful, consistent and direct contact with the

child and their family• The experiences of particularly vulnerable children• how well services take account of children’s wishes

and feelings• Whether services are accessible to everyone and that

there is equality of opportunity and outcomes