By Rob Preston and Mithran Samuel
Inspectors have praised Hull council’s care leaver service in their fifth monitoring visit to the authority since an inadequate rating in 2019.
Ofsted found that “skilled” staff were “providing greatly improved support to care leavers”, and felt “extremely well supported” by managers, on the back of significant investment from a “stable and determined leadership team”.
Inspectors said staff knew young people well, were persistent in keeping in touch with them and had improved the quality of pathway plans, which addressed care leavers’ needs well and were well informed by their views.
Most care leavers were in suitable accommodation, with “proactive and agile support” to prevent tenancies breaking down, and young people also benefited from an effective service to meet their emotional needs. Inspectors also praised support for asylum-seeking young people.
Committed staff ‘have worked relentlessly’
The report marks a third consecutive positive monitoring visit for Hull over the past year.
Shane McMurray, portfolio holder for children’s services, said it had been a “key priority” to improve services for care leavers.
"We are now working with more care leavers than ever, and our ambition is to see every one supported into a good home, a good job and have firm foundations to help them achieve their ambitions for the future,” he added.
“We have committed staff who work with our care experienced young people and our young people trust their workers. Our journey of substantially improving our services is all down to their hard work, perseverance and commitment.”
Paul Moffat, the Department for Education-appointed commissioner overseeing Hull’s improvements, said he was "delighted to see inspectors recognise the progress made in Hull children's services”. “Staff and leaders have worked relentlessly throughout the pandemic to ensure care leavers have had the support they deserve,” he added.
