Date published: 2025-08-05 | Category: Children's Services, Focusing on prevention, Improving people's lives, Safeguarding
Children in B&NES continue to benefit from good quality support, help and services that have a positive impact on their lives says Ofsted, which has rated Bath & North East Somerset Council Children’s Services as Good.
Today (August 5) Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for Children’s Services, welcomed the findings and said the rating was testament to the hard work and dedication of the children’s services team who support children, young people and families across B&NES.
The inspection report by Ofsted published today acknowledges how well families are supported to keep children living with them as well as reunifying children back into the care of their families, when safe to do so.
Inspectors found that children who need help and protection have meaningful and trusting relationships with social workers who know them well. Early help is timely and swift action is taken when there are significant concerns, with social workers working collaboratively with partner agencies.
The report also noted that the council’s innovative Fostering Families service has provided creative support to enable children to remain living at home, removing the need for higher levels of support.
Children in care are supported to stay in touch with family members via the Lifelong Links service and their educational needs are effectively identified through the Virtual School, which ensures personal education plans are in place to help them make progress.
Inspectors stated that care leavers develop trusted and positive ongoing relationships with their Personal Advisors and are supported to develop strategies that help them to stay safe in the community.
Councillor Paul May, cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “This report is good news for children in Bath and North East Somerset who need support and is testament to the hard work and dedication of our children’s services team, who work hard to get the best outcomes for children in very difficult circumstances. We are proud of our ‘good’ rating across the board and the areas in which the team is especially achieving great outcomes for children, such as spending quality time with them and making sure they receive the right help.
“We are expecting a new director of children’s services starting in August and these strong foundations enable us to deliver on our ambitions of continuous improvement and to deliver the best care and support to children and young people and their families.”
Find support for children, young people and families in B&NES.
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