Month: March 2025

Ofsted report on Herefordshire Children’s Services

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Ofsted has published their latest findings for Herefordshire Children’s Services in a report today (20 March 2025).

The Ofsted letter details the results of Herefordshire’s sixth monitoring visit that took place on 18 and 19 February 2025. The focus of the inspection centred around the quality and timeliness of social work assessments.

The inspection is part of a series of visits put in place following the service being judged inadequate in July 2022.

Headlines from the report noted that ‘Timely completion of assessment and support provided by social workers and family support workers in the assessment and support teams has a positive impact which enables the majority of children and their families to progress in having their needs met’ and ‘Leaders are now making some tangible progress to improve the quality and consistency of practice within the assessment teams.’

Inspectors found that there was a stronger understanding and commitment across the council to children who need the support of children’s social care and that this was reflected in its corporate plans, priorities and the commitment to developing ‘Child Friendly Herefordshire.’

Inspectors also found that thresholds are appropriately applied and that informed decisions about the level of intervention and decisions to meet the needs of children are clearly thought through with a clear rationale. For the children they saw being accommodated into care, Ofsted found these decisions were appropriate and made in the best interest of children to protect them from further harm.

The report noted that ‘a range of professionals and agencies are involved and make an important contribution to assessments as well as provide the support which families need’ and highlighted that ‘many social workers developed relationships with parents and children in a skilled way.’

The work of the young carers team was reviewed as part of the inspection within findings that more young carers were receiving support and that ‘assessments were comprehensive and child focused.’

Ofsted noted the drive to ensure the service receive feedback from children and parents and recognised this as more embedded into audit activity, giving a more meaningful insight into the experience and impact of interventions on children and families.

Children’s services staff continued to report that they enjoy working for Herefordshire and were positive about feeling engaged and supported by managers and leaders.

We’re really pleased that the report acknowledges clear signs of improvement in our services. We have shared with you previously that our improvement journey will take some time to see sustainable developments and we are now beginning to see the positive outcomes from our work.

The report identifies a few areas where focused work is needed, and this feedback will be part of the Herefordshire Children’s Services improvement journey.

We will continue to work at pace to achieve our ambition of providing ‘Outstanding’ children’s social care services in Herefordshire.

 

You can read a full copy of the Ofsted letter here.

 

If you have any questions or comments to share about the report, please email tina.russell@herefordshire.gov.uk

Thank you for your continued support.

 

Tina Russell

Interim Director for Children and Young People

Herefordshire Council

Herefordshire Council Flood Group meeting 25 March

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Herefordshire Council (HCC) will be hosting the 2nd flood group meeting on Tuesday 25th March. This is part of a series of events as part of their Flood Response Programme, following the successful meeting in January, where they heard from a number of local groups about how they were building capacity and capability to address flooding in their area, as well as a briefing from the Environment Agency about the flood warning and alert systems.

 

This session will include a presentation by renowned flooding advisor Mary Long-Dhonau OBE (often known as ‘Flood Mary’), of Ledbury, who speaks nationally about the flood resilience measures that can be undertaken by households. This ties in with a roadshow of the “Floodpod”, at four sites across the county at the end of this month, where residents can see what sort of solutions can be used for their properties.

 

HCC will also be briefing on progress within the Flood Response Programme as a whole, including answers to some of the more strategic questions asked last time, the development of the team at HCC, and about a pilot scheme of the council funding community flood resilience measures – it’s not just about sandbags!

 

The event will again be via Teams, although in light of a number of requests, the next one will be in person – with more details to follow shortly.

 

The second Herefordshire Flood Group meeting will be held online via Teams on Tuesday, March 25 · 6:30 – 7:30pm. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please register via Eventbrite here: Second Herefordshire Flood Group meeting Tickets, Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 6:30 PM | Eventbrite

 

HCC will be sending out the meeting link via Eventbrite the day prior to the meeting, with a further email reminder with link 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

 

Flooding advice

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FloodPod will be visiting Leominster, Peterchurch, Ledbury and Ross on Wye on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th March.

 

It showcases lots of examples of Property Flood Resilience (PFR) to help you understand the various ways you can minimise disruption and damage from flooding.

 

Flooding advisor Mary Long-Dhonau OBE (Flood Mary) will be on hand to answer questions and give advice.

 

Fri 28 March

Leominster: 9.30am – 1.00pm in Etnam Street car park

 

Peterchurch: 3.00pm – 6.00pm at the village hall

 

Sat 29 March

Ledbury: 9.30am – 1.00pm in St. Katherine’s Street car park

 

Ross on Wye: 3.00pm – 6.00pm in Red Meadow car park