BIRMINGHAM COUNCIL REACTS TO OFSTED CLAIMS

03-12-2008

Birmingham Council has defended itself against Ofsted claims that it’s Childrens Services department put vulnerable children at risk by failing to carry out satisfactory reviews when youngsters known to them had died or come to serious harm.

As we revealed yesterday, three out of four reviews examined by the inspector were deemed “inadequate”, suggesting the department was failing to learn vital lessons after serious incidents (see link here).

That's been rubutted by the Council, whose response suggests - if you read between the lines - that Ofsted's criteria were not made clear until earlier this year; and that until recently Birmingham was regarded as a model local authority in terms of its SCR's (Serious Case Reviews).

A spokesperson said: "Serious Case Reviews are undertaken by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

"The management of Birmingham's Serious Case Review (SCR) process was nationally recognised and for this reason Birmingham was chosen as a pilot for the DCSF review of Child Death Overview Panels which reported in 2008.

"Since April 2007, we have had a grading of 'inadequate' against 3 out of 4 of the SCRs reviewed. This was before we were informed how Ofsted would judge them.

"For example, if the Chair was a member of the Local Safeguarding Children Board, the review would not now be considered independent. In response, since January 2008, all SCRs have had independent chairs.

"An inadequate judgement can be due to delays in completing a SCR.

"Such delays are often due to the need to wait for criminal proceedings to finish - a factor that is acknowledged in Ofsted's 2007/08 annual report, and that has been reinforced in public statements by the Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families.

"Regardless of the timing of the completion of the SCR, any review recommendations for individual agencies are implemented immediately. We do not await publication of a report before taking action.

"Each SCR provides important lessons for safeguarding practice across agencies. We will continue to learn such lessons from each and every SCR undertaken.

"Our latest review was judged adequate."

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