Liverpool Council’s Services for protecting children deemed ‘inadequate.’

In a damning Ofsted report, four out of five areas of assessment were marked inadequate and one as requiring improvement.

There has been a deterioration in the quality of service since the last Ofsted inspection in 2018, with risks to vulnerable children going unidentified and insufficiently dealt with.

Inspector Lisa Summers said: “Efforts to engage those young people who are more resistant to support, particularly those who have additional vulnerabilities, are insufficient, leaving too many without necessary help in times of crisis.”

Senior managers have taken action to address capacity issues in relation to these issues, however, caseloads are still too high and staff are “unable to deliver the quality of practice they aspire to.”

Paula Barker, MP for Wavertree addressed the report, saying she’s concerned for the vulnerable children in Liverpool.

She published on Twitter that under the leadership of Liam Robinson, she believes that Labour can rebuild trust in Social Services again.

Barker added, “Social Care staff try to do the best job they possibly can in very difficult circumstances. My thoughts are also with them as they digest the report's findings.”

The report has been said to be in no way a reflection of frontline social care staff, but a reflection of the negligence of the senior council team.

Undoubtedly, this issue needs to be resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible, but with a lack of funding and resources the care staff don’t have much to work with.

Whilst the council has been forced to focus on regeneration and finance, an accumulation of social care issues have been pushed aside.

The neglect of the next generation is something that must be resolved with immediate effect.

To view the full report go to https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50218078