Children services chiefs in Gloucestershire say they are struggling to recruit and retain experienced staff due to Ofsted’s delay in reinspecting the local authority.
The council’s children’s services were deemed inadequate by Ofsted in 2017 and councillors say it’s “a disgrace” that they have not been reinspected.
Children’s services director Chris Spencer believes the local authority has made significant improvements and would no longer be deemed as inadequate if it were inspected now.
He said the inadequate rating they were given four years ago is hindering their efforts to recruit experienced social workers.
Mr Spencer told the children and families overview and scrutiny committee that he has tried to influence Ofsted.
“I have written to Ofsted and made representations to them that their delay in inspecting Gloucestershire isn’t helping the recovery because very few people want to come to work for an inadequate local authority,” Mr Spencer said.
“Frankly, were we inspected now I don’t think we would be inadequate. We’ve still got lots of challenges ahead and some significant improvements to make to be a good service but I don’t believe we are inadequate.
“Of course, that does affect people when they apply for a job if they’ve got a choice between an inadequate or a good authority, they are more likely, all other things considered equal, to go for the good authority.
“We can probably count the number of experienced social workers that we’ve been able to recruit into permanent positions on the fingers of one or two hands in the last two years.
“We are having to grow our own.”
Mr Spencer said he would not rest until the council achieved a good service for all children.
Councillor David Drew said it was a disgrace that more than four years on since the inadequate rating they are yet to conduct the reinspection.
“I know what damage the awaiting of Ofsted does in schools. It does immeasurable psychological damage.”
Ofsted has been approached for comment.
By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter