Ofsted Inspection of Children's Services
Annual assessment
Each year Ofsted rates children's services in each local authority area. The rating is published in November and is one of 4 levels - Performs excellently, Performs well, Performs adequately, Performs poorly. This is a table top assessment with no inspection visit.
In November 2011, Wiltshire was judged to be "Performs Well". The assessment letter can be viewed on the Ofsted website.
Annual unannounced inspection
Annually, Ofsted also inspect contact, referral and assessment processes in children's social care. This is an unannounced inspection which lasts for 2 days.
The last unannounced inspection was in July 2011 and was a good inspection as it identified no areas for priority action, however, there were some areas for development.
The assessment letter can be view on the Ofsted website.
10 Day Inspection of Safeguarding and Looked After Children
Every area's Children's Services are being inspected over a three year period between 2009 and 2012. Even though it is an announced inspection we don't yet know when it will take place as we will be given only 10 days notice. During the notice period we will need to collate a set of information for the inspectors, provide a list of children and young people we are working with and set up timetables for interviews and fieldwork visits. The fieldwork itself is spread over 10 days.
Wiltshire had a 10 day inspection in March 2012. The assessment letter can be viewed on the Ofsted website.
Fostering Services and Adoption Services are also regularly inspected. Both Services were inspected in Summer 2010 and both were rated as good.
Wiltshire can also be subject to thematic inspection by Ofsted at any time.
Detailed guidance on processes involved in these inspections is available on the Ofsted website:
Contact Details (LiveLink)
Multiple Contacts:
eMail: lynda.cox@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 07500 605 299
Out of hours:
Fax:
Postal Address:
Lynda Cox
Head of Performance Management & Co-ordination
Section
Department
for Children and Education
Wilthisre Council
County
Hall
Bythesea Road
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
8JB
In Person:
DX:
Related documents
Last updated: 25 April 2012
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