Gloucestershire's children's services has been on quite the journey, from an inadequate overall Ofsted rating in 2017, to requires improvement in 2022 and good with outstanding features in 2025. But how has this been achieved?
Paul Shallcross, service director of children and families, and Beccy Pullinger, a social worker in one of the children and family first teams, explain how senior leadership and frontline social workers have changed the culture of the organisation and really focused on using relational practice.
We hear from two of the council's ambassadors, who are care experienced and employed by the authority. The ambassadors have a number of roles within children's services to help improve polices, procedures and the support offered to young people in the county.
Danteiye, 19, and Shane, 20, explain how their roles have helped in improving services for children and families in Gloucestershire. The ambassadors also mentor senior leaders so that they can tell them directly how to improve things across the service, and make sure they are listened to.
Hear their voices now on the latest Social Work Community podcast episode: Listen to "Using a relational approach to transform children's services" on Spreaker.
If you're interested in a career with with Gloucestershire County Council, take a look at current vacancies and its recruiter profile.