{"id":67979,"date":"2025-12-04T09:47:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T09:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=67979"},"modified":"2025-12-04T09:47:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T09:47:06","slug":"ofsted-praises-major-improvements-for-care-leavers-in-good-news-for-childrens-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/ofsted-praises-major-improvements-for-care-leavers-in-good-news-for-childrens-services\/","title":{"rendered":"Ofsted praises major improvements for care leavers in good news for children\u2019s services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Devon County Council has received glowing feedback from Ofsted inspectors, who have praised significant progress in services for care leavers following their latest inspection.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

County Council Leader Councillor Julian Brazil says this endorsement highlights the positive impact being made since the authority\u2019s new administration made children its top priority, following May\u2019s elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a letter to the council, Ofsted inspectors highlighted \u201cgreater clarity,\u201d \u201cgreater effort,\u201d and \u201ca more consistent service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It found that the Council\u2019s political, corporate and operational leaders are \u201coverseeing a much-needed programme of improvements across children\u2019s services.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Councillor Brazil welcomed the comments. He said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cI pledged when I became Leader of this Council earlier this year that children would be our number one priority, and our Strategic Plan makes that very clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe changes we\u2019ve been putting in place are now beginning to have a positive effect in supporting the most vulnerable in Devon. I\u2019m pleased Ofsted has recognised the improvements being made, and that care leavers themselves spoke with enthusiasm to inspectors about the improvements across the service.<\/p>\n

\u201cDevon\u2019s children have been failed for far too long, but we are committed to delivering the very best for the county\u2019s most vulnerable children. Our young people deserve the best start in life.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of the Council<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

The comments from Ofsted mark a major turnaround since October 2024, when inspectors last visited this service area in Devon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In its review of the progress being made in the quality and impact of services for care leavers, Ofsted says the council has made \u201cconsiderable progress,\u201d with a clear focus on securing safe, stable housing and improving opportunities for care-experienced young people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspectors praised the council\u2019s \u201cdetermination to improve services to care leavers. Leaders take their responsibilities as corporate parents seriously\u201d. It says this is ensuring Devon \u201cis making a difference and improving the quality of support provided to care leavers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key achievement has been improving access to suitable accommodation. Ofsted noted stronger partnerships with district councils and housing providers, an increase in care leavers moving into social housing, and innovative measures such as rent guarantees, deposit schemes, and expanded \u201cstaying close\u201d and \u201cstaying put\u201d arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These steps, inspectors said, are \u201cbeginning to redress long-standing failures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond housing, the council has boosted education, employment, and training opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspectors reported rising numbers of care-experienced young people progressing to university and welcomed the recruitment of specialist advisers and wellbeing practitioners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They praised Personal Advisers (PAs) for their \u201ctenacity\u201d and commitment, describing strong relationships that celebrate young people\u2019s achievements. Workforce stability was also recognised as a major improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n

\r\n\t
\r\n

Councillor Richard Jefferies, Cabinet Member for Children\u2019s Services, said:<\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

\u201cThis is a very welcome report from Ofsted, acknowledging the excellent work this council is doing to improve outcomes for care-experienced children and young people. We have turned a corner on accommodation and are helping young people into education, employment, and training, supported by a committed, permanent workforce. But there is no time for complacency \u2013 we must keep this momentum going.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

\r\n\t
\r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
\r\n Councillor Richard Jefferies, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services – Social Services<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

Inspectors acknowledged that challenges remain, including increasing the availability of move-on accommodation and improving the timeliness and quality of risk assessments and pathway plans. However, they recognised the council\u2019s strong foundations and commitment to continuous improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report comes as Devon makes the case to retain its current structure for children\u2019s services amid local government reorganisation. The council argues that breaking up improving services would risk progress and create smaller, less resilient teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Ofsted\u2019s endorsement and a clear improvement plan in place, Devon County Council says it is determined to build on this success and deliver even better outcomes for care-experienced young people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":67980,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[7,24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67979","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-children-families-and-education","category-dcc-homepage"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":67980,"title":"News Page size (56)","alt":"A group of young adults, holding cups of hot drink, chatting, smiling.","description":"","caption":"","url":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56.jpg","width":1200,"height":675,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-400x270.jpg","thumbnail_width":400,"thumbnail_height":270,"medium":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-600x338.jpg","medium_width":600,"medium_height":338,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-768x432.jpg","medium_large_width":768,"medium_large_height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-800x450.jpg","large_width":800,"large_height":450,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56.jpg","1536x1536_width":1200,"1536x1536_height":675,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56.jpg","2048x2048_width":1200,"2048x2048_height":675,"thumbnail_featured":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-770x450.jpg","thumbnail_featured_width":770,"thumbnail_featured_height":450,"thumbnail_sidebar":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-200x135.jpg","thumbnail_sidebar_width":200,"thumbnail_sidebar_height":135,"banner-block":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-440x440.jpg","banner-block_width":440,"banner-block_height":440,"small-banner":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-640x360.jpg","small-banner_width":640,"small-banner_height":360,"medium-banner":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-1024x576.jpg","medium-banner_width":1024,"medium-banner_height":576,"small-thumb":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-640x480.jpg","small-thumb_width":640,"small-thumb_height":480,"medium-thumb":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-320x240.jpg","medium-thumb_width":320,"medium-thumb_height":240,"large-thumb":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-420x315.jpg","large-thumb_width":420,"large-thumb_height":315,"slideshow-preview":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-300x200.jpg","slideshow-preview_width":300,"slideshow-preview_height":200,"slideshow":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/146\/2025\/12\/News-Page-size-56-800x533.jpg","slideshow_width":800,"slideshow_height":533}},"category_priority":false,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":true,"date":"2027-12-04 09:40:33","action":"delete","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67979"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67979\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67982,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67979\/revisions\/67982"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}