Conservative Shadow Spokesperson for Children and Families Kyle Green (Con, Ilkley) has reacted after the latest update for Bradford Council from OFSTED as the Labour run council looks to improve on its 'Inadequate' rating from 2018.
With all councillors, regardless of political party, determined to work together to see improvement and a better and safer experience for children across the district Councillor Green was pleased to see that OFSTED have been able to identify areas of improvement and is confident that current senior management team now has a positive pathway for children’s services to improve.
Despite this Councillor Green remains concerned about that the. slow pace of these improvements which has been highlighted by OFSTED, especially given that when responding to the inadequate rating in 2018 the Labour Council Leader Hinchliffe promised "...we will deliver rapid improvements" which clearly hasn't yet materialised.
Speaking about the report Councilor Green stated, "As the youngest district in the UK it is absolutely imperative Bradford Council have not just a good rating but are providing an outstanding rated children's service to help ensure that those children, families and carers who need to use this service, some of whom are the most vulnerable in the district, are confident in doing so.
I recognise the good work that is being done to support vulnerable children during the Covid pandemic when pressures on services have grown and understand the challenge of recruiting experienced social workers at a time when there are national shortages. However, it remains imperative that we see resources invested wisely to focus on sustainable and rapid improvement to our children’s’ services. We don’t need outside bodies like UNICEF to tell us how to get better, something we already know two years after the inadequate rating, this £300,000 being spent on more consultation would better be invested in improving children's homes."