The Government has formally lifted an improvement notice on Liverpool City Council's children's services, three years after the department was rated inadequate and placed in special measures.
The move follows a recent Ofsted inspection that rated the service ‘good’. Inspectors praised stronger leadership, better social work practice, reduced caseloads, a more stable workforce and a clearer grip on risk and performance.
In a letter to the council, children and families minister Josh MacAlister acknowledged the commitment of leaders, partners and practitioners. He said the Families First reforms were central to sustaining improvement.
The council must now address the areas Ofsted highlighted. These include children presenting as homeless, private fostering, care leavers' pathway planning, and education, employment and training support.
Cabinet member for children's services Cllr Liz Parsons said the decision was official recognition of substantial progress, but that the council was ‘absolutely not complacent’.
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