Family Solicitors

Reading Borough Council has pledged to continue to drive forward improvements to children's services, following a full Ofsted inspection, which rated children’s services “inadequate”.

The council has seen an 85% increase in referrals to social care in Reading over the last 12 months – and a 41% increase in social worker caseloads. The increase comes amid a national shortage of skilled social workers, says the council.

The council added that it “fully accepts” the serious findings in the Ofsted report. Ofsted acknowledges, however, that the council has already identified and started addressing many of the issues raised – and that a newly appointed and experienced management team has already started to make progress.

Under new children’s services director Helen McMullen, a “robust” recruitment and retention plan has already secured 43 permanent social workers and managers – and 80% of Reading’s social workers will be permanent by the autumn.

A strong improvement plan has also been put in place – and inspectors acknowledge there are clear examples of progressive reform under way. The Ofsted report says senior managers are confident they have a realistic understanding of practice weaknesses – and recent work is beginning to have some impact.

The new director Helen McMullen has made responding to child sexual exploitation a priority – and she also chairs the LSCB sexual exploitation and missing sub-group. A child sexual exploitation co-ordinator has also helped to improve mapping and tracking of any children at risk.

The council adds that a number of significant senior roles have been filled on a permanent basis – including the Head of Safeguarding, Head of Transformation and Governance and the Head of Early Help, as well as a recently appointed Principal Social Worker to focus on the delivery of quality and consistent practice.

A new model of working is also being introduced in the autumn, to reduce individual caseloads, offer “clear and direct support” to social workers – and improve the quality of assessments. Extra support and training for social workers is also underway – and will provide a consolidation of performance standards, including a comprehensive induction programme.

All care plans for children are being entered onto a new case records system, which will ensure records are kept up-to-date and are of high quality.


The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) – which helps identify and support children at risk straight away – is considered to be working well, with a good level of information sharing between partners and effective out-of-hours provision, says the council.

Reading Council's Lead Member for Children's Services, Councillor Jan Gavin, said:

“This Ofsted inspection is a difficult read and we do not shy away from its findings.

“I can assure residents that the safeguarding of children in Reading is a top priority for the council – and a robust improvement plan is already in place and is beginning to make a difference.

“As the inspectors recognised, we were already aware of many of the issues raised in the report through our own internal assessment – and we are continuing to put every effort into making sustainable, long term improvements.

“The council had already committed an additional £1.4 million to increase the number of social worker and management posts.

“As the new Director, Helen McMullen, recently reported to the last Adult, Children and Education Committee, plans are well advanced to implement a new service delivery model by this autumn that will reduce high caseloads – and will offer clear and direct support to social workers and improve the quality of assessments.”

Duncan Lewis Family Solicitors

Duncan Lewis family solicitors can advise on a wide range of family and child care matters, including child abuse within the home, children taken into Local Authority care, Court of Protection, Section 38 enquiries and pre-proceedings meetings.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and our specialist child care and family solicitors are also able to advise on:

• Adoption and international adoption
• Child care arrangements
• Child maintenance
• Civil Partnerships
• Court Orders
• Divorce
• Domestic violence & honour crimes
• Dowry disputes
• FGM
• Forced marriage
• International child abduction
• International marriage and divorce
• Islamic marriage and divorce
• Property disputes
• Separation agreements
• Spouse abandonment
• Wills and trusts.

For expert legal advice on family law and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis family solicitors on 0333 772 0409.