Devon County Council is continuing to make progress in improving its children’s services, according to the latest report from Ofsted.
Inspectors visited the council in March and said there have been important changes since the last inspection, including a major reshape of services and the continued appointment of permanent leaders and managers, helping to bring more stability to the workforce.
Inspectors found that, “leaders have set a clear direction for improvement that emphasises more thoughtful, proportionate and purposeful work with families to promote meaningful change.”
There is now a clearer focus on giving children and families the right level of support at the right time. As a result, most children who are receiving help through child in need or child protection plans are making better progress.
The report highlights the commitment and determination of social workers across Devon who are building positive relationships with families. Children are being seen regularly, their views are being listened to, and action is being taken when there are concerns about their safety or wellbeing.
Inspectors also found that most children are getting support that is better matched to their needs, with social workers working closely with families to help bring about positive change over time. They noticed an increasingly effective use of family networks to support children and strengthen long-term outcomes.
There have also been improvements in how quickly the council responds when children are at immediate risk, with faster meetings between agencies and thorough investigations where concerns are raised. Responses to domestic abuse are also improving.
At the same time, Ofsted said there is still more to do. They highlighted the need for greater consistency in evaluating how well support is making a difference to children’s day-to-day lives.
Inspectors also found that decisions can sometimes be too cautious, particularly when children are facing a range of ongoing or complex issues.
Work is already underway to address these areas, including strengthened oversight arrangements and a more systematic approach to reviewing children’s plans. Inspector described the approach as “warmly forensic”, combining detailed scrutiny with constructive feedback. This is giving leaders a more accurate understanding of practice and helping to drive continued improvement.
Inspectors recognised that the introduction of a new locality model is providing a clearer structure for delivering services across Devon and supporting better coordination for children and families. However, there are ongoing challenges in working with partner organisations, with some children experiencing delays in getting the help, equipment or specialist support they need from other services.
Responding to the report, Devon County Council said it welcomed Ofsted’s recognition of the progress being made, while remaining focused on the work still to be done.
Leaders have emphasised that improving outcomes for children and young people through consistently high-quality support remains their top priority, and that change will continue to be driven at pace, but in a way that supports staff and delivers sustainable improvement.
Councillor Richard Jefferies, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said:
“We welcome Ofsted’s recognition that we are moving in the right direction, but we know there is more to do and we are not complacent. We’ve made important changes to how our services are organised and supported, and it’s encouraging that Ofsted is seeing the difference this is starting to make for children and families in Devon.
“Our focus now is on building on this progress by strengthening how we work with partners, making sure our decisions are clear and timely, and continuing to provide consistently high-quality support that is not only timely, but that it is making a real and lasting difference to children’s everyday lives.
“We remain fully committed to continuing this improvement journey, and I am pleased that this report recognises the hard work of social workers and staff, who support children and families across the county to stay safe and achieve better outcomes.”