Matthew Brazier HMI, specialist adviser (looked after children) discusses the characteristics of local authority services for care leavers.

1. Improving provision for care
leavers
Westminster Education Forum Keynote Seminar
Tuesday 8 January 2019
Matthew Brazier HMI, specialist adviser (looked after children)
@mbrazierhmi
Slide 1Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS)

2. Inspections of local authority children’s
services (ILACS)
 ILACS introduced in January 2018, replacing single inspections
 We no longer make a separate judgement on services for care
leavers
 But care leavers’ experiences and progress remain under at
least the same level of scrutiny – integral to the judgement on
‘the experiences of children in care and care leavers’
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 2

3. Inspections of local authority children’s
services (ILACS)
 We always report findings about the experiences and progress
of care leavers on short and standard inspections
 We’ve also published nine letters to LAs following focused visits
looking at services for care leavers (and three letters following
monitoring visits)
 We are reviewing the implementation of the ILACS
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 3

4. Common characteristics of strong LAs
 Positive and lasting relationships between young people and personal advisers (PAs),
who have manageable caseloads
 Robust specific planning for young people’s futures that takes account of their
individual needs and allows them to move towards independence at a pace that suits
them
 A strong corporate parenting ethos at all levels of the council; leaders have
engaged key partners well to promote the needs of care leavers (evidenced, for example,
by well-established apprenticeship schemes and good access to suitable accommodation)
 Stable workforce and leadership and a track record of providing high quality
services
An improving picture – a growing number of local authorities now have high quality services for care
leavers
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 4

5. What does outstanding look like?
“Care leavers now benefit from a service and staff that greatly
invest in relationships with young people. Staff value the
importance of these relationships and nurture them well. Care
leavers are surrounded by strong support networks, and barriers
to their progress are overcome by the committed and tenacious
staff group. Increased resources and manageable reduced
caseloads enable this to happen.”
Brent, 2018
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 5

6. What does outstanding look like?
“An impressive whole-council approach to the support of care
leavers…[Pathway Plans] are regularly reviewed jointly with
young people and with clear management oversight, and most
are used as a meaningful and dynamic document…Care leavers
receive support that is well balanced between nurture and
encouragement to live more independently when they are ready.”
East Sussex, 2018
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 6

7. More headlines
 There is improving access to accommodation overall – the
use of bed and breakfast accommodation is generally used only
in very rare and exceptional circumstances (though challenges
remain for many LAs)
 NEET figures still relatively high - while an increasing
number of young people are engaged in employment,
education and training in several local authorities, this continues
to be a challenge overall, even for some Las where practice is
strong overall
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 7

8. Common characteristics of weaker services
High PA caseloads and staff turnover that adversely
affects the support that young people receive and
the quality of their relationships with their PAs
Poor planning that is too vague and doesn’t engage
young people sufficiently
The LA’s inability to prioritise the needs of care
leavers
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 8

9. Common characteristics of strong
LAs remain constant
 Positive and lasting relationships, underpinned by manageable
caseloads
 Robust, specific planning for young people’s futures
 A strong corporate parenting ethos at all levels
 Stable workforce and leadership
The local offers can add detail and we’re aware of some
excellent initiatives – but these are the fundamentals
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 9

10. Questions?
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 10

11. Ofsted on the web and on social media
www.gov.uk/ofsted
http://reports.ofsted.gov.uk
www.linkedin.com/company/ofsted
www.youtube.com/ofstednews
www.slideshare.net/ofstednews
www.twitter.com/ofstednews
Inspection of local authority children's services (ILACS) Slide 11