A PUBLIC health watchdog has found delays for some Trafford children waiting to be matched with an adoptive family.   

In addition, the inspector said caseloads for social workers are too high – and this has caused delays in identifying and responding to some children’s needs.

During a recent visit Ofsted inspector Pauline Higham reviewed how the authority achieved finding ‘permanence’ for children – and specifically for those children who returned to their birth families, adoption, connected carers placements, long-term fostering and residential care.

She considered a range of evidence, including case discussions with social workers – and looked at the authority’s management and quality assurance information and children’s case records.

The report read: “There are delays for some children when a placement order has been granted and they are waiting to be matched with an adoptive family.

“There has also been some delay in securing special guardian orders for children in connected carers placements.

“For some children, this delay has been over a number of years.”

The report continued: “There is also some delay in decision-making to progress to a special guardian order – and in completing assessments for those children living with connected carers.

“This means that some children continue to receive a statutory social work intervention when they no longer require this.”

However, Ms Higham reported that ‘multi-agency’ working is strong, and there is a clear joint focus on achieving improved outcomes for children.

She said the council had developed a strong set of performance data to support their permanence work.

“Leaders and managers use this well to inform their planning for, and delivery of, services,” wrote Ms Higham.

“However, caseloads for some social workers are too high.

“This impacts on their capacity to undertake assessments and means that support and intervention for children in need are not always timely while social workers prioritise their higher risk cases.

“There is delay in identifying and responding to some children’s needs.”

Ms Higham also found that while ‘appropriate’ decisions for children were being made by the fostering panel, minutes from meetings are not reviewed to ensure actions are followed through.

“Not all panel members have received their annual appraisals – and leaders recognise that there is further development and training required to improve the efficiency of the panel,” she added.

Meanwhile Coun Jane Baugh, portfolio holder for children’s services, welcomed the report.

“I am delighted that Ofsted has recognised the great work of our children’s services teams and I would like to thank all of the staff involved for their dedication,” she added.

“We can always find ways of improvement and will ensure that any actions highlighted are swiftly implemented to strengthen children’s social care even further”.