Brent's Children in Care Thriving but Missing Response Inconsistent
A recent Ofsted inspection has found that children in care in Brent are feeling safe, developing confidence, and thriving while making good progress at school. The report, conducted in December last year, highlights the positive impact of the virtual school and the enduring relationships children have forged with their social workers and carers.
Strong Support and Positive Outcomes
According to the inspection, children in Brent continue to benefit from support led by an experienced and stable senior team. The local authority has sustained effective frontline help through strong political and corporate support, with leadership having an in-depth understanding of service strengths and areas for improvement.
The inspector emphasised the enduring, trusting relationships that children have with their social workers, providing a secure base for growth. The virtual school is noted for its positive impact, with no permanent exclusions and most children progressing well, some achieving particularly high results.
Areas of Excellence and Concern
Direct work with children enables them to share feelings and explore sensitive matters with social workers. This support is especially strong for disabled children, who receive good care in stable homes with caring families. The care of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is described as thoughtful.
However, the report identifies key areas for improvement. Social workers are not consistently capturing children's life stories, which hampers understanding of their personal histories and integration of past and present experiences.
Inconsistent Response to Missing Children
A significant concern raised is the inconsistent response to children in care going missing. Risk assessment gaps exist due to return home interviews not always being carried out. Management oversight and actions to mitigate risk are not always clear from records, meaning opportunities to reduce the likelihood of future missing incidents are missed.
Despite this, senior managers maintain good oversight of decision-making and planning, strengthening monitoring of early plan stages to help children move more quickly into permanent homes. Social workers speak very positively about working in Brent.
Council Response and Future Steps
Brent Council was approached for comment but did not respond ahead of publication. The inspection builds on previous findings from February 2023, showing ongoing efforts but highlighting the need for more consistent practices in handling missing children cases to ensure all risks are adequately addressed.
