INSPECTORS have rated children’s services in Southend “good” five years after the council was ordered to make improvements by regulator Ofsted.

The rating – the second highest possible – follows a two-day inspection last month where inspectors highlighted a series of improvements since the “requires improvement” rating in 2019.

However, inspectors noted there remain “legacy workforce challenges” and improvements are still needed in the response to 16 and 17-year-olds who present as homeless and the timeliness of planning for children in care.

In the report, published yesterday, inspectors said: “Leaders at every level in the council have contributed to a programme of change across the whole culture of service delivery, systemically improving services in a sustainable way for children and their families.

“Many vulnerable children and their families now benefit from this work.”

Ofsted grades services across four measures, with the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families, the experiences and progress of children who need help and protection and the experiences and progress of care leavers all found to be good.

Laurie Burton, councillor for children, young people and SEND, said: “This is a fantastic achievement, and I want to thank everyone involved who has made this possible, from all the staff and their teams, right through to the senior leadership, our foster carers, and councillors across the political spectrum who have all worked hard to instil positive change and improvements into the service.

“I am pleased that inspectors noted so many positives in the report, demonstrating the passion, commitment and care of our staff and the positive impact that their work is having for children and young people.

“Whilst we have been judged Good, we are also aware of where improvements are needed within the corporate parenting area, with much of this linked to a high turnover of staff that is being addressed, with new permanent members of staff starting soon.”

The report notes that social workers speak with warmth and knowledge about the children and families they support and that the training and development offered in Southend effectively equip staff to deliver their work with children and families.