A meeting of Knowsley Council on 16 July received an update on the ongoing work to improve services for children and families in the borough.
The full Council meeting was addressed directly by Anthony Douglas CBE the independent Chair of Knowsley’s Improvement Board and Department for Education (DfE) Advisor appointed following an Ofsted Inspection in November 2024.
Alongside noting positive progress, Anthony also commended the Council’s overall approach to its improvement journey, he said:
“I am really pleased that Knowsley is making good progress in improving its services for children and families. We are all realistic that it will take time to see all of the changes we need but I have to commend the Council – its officers, elected members and partners – for their positive and proactive approach and the strength of the teamwork that is clearly evident.
“All of these efforts are helping to create the right conditions for sustainable improvement, and I hope that this approach will realise long-term benefits for the children of Knowsley.”
A whole-council approach has been taken to deliver the Children’s Services improvement plan, ensuring that sustainable improvements can be made so that children can grow up happy, healthy and safe from harm with people who love, cherish and nurture them.
Significant activity and improvements have been made since November, but many issues are longer-time and will require time to embed fully into everyday practice. The Improvement Plan will be delivered over the next 2 to 3 years.
Improvements over the last few months include:-
- An experienced Director of Children’s Service is in post until at least August 2026, who is providing strong leadership and brings significant experience of improving Children’s Social Care services.
- Leadership capacity has further been strengthened with the creation of an Assistant Executive Director for Quality, Permanence and Sufficiency and senior leadership capacity and oversight has been strengthened across the service.
- Social Worker, Team Manager and Personal Assistant capacity has been increased to reduce caseloads and enable improvements to be made.
- Resources have been redeployed to ensure expertise is focused on higher areas of risk such as Child Protection and Children with Disabilities.
- A temporary Practice Improvement Team, including additional auditor expertise and capacity, has been established to drive improvements and improve standards.
- A temporary Court Team has been established to work on cases related to court documents and assessments to ensure that delays are minimised.
- Panels have been established to systematically review children’s plans.
- Identification of and support for young carers has been improved, including additional capacity where required and improvements made to the referral and monitoring processes.
- Social Workers and Team Managers are receiving training on an ongoing basis to ensure they have all the tools and knowledge to improve practice.
- Dedicated Domestic Abuse Response capacity has been implemented and improved processes established.
- New practice standards have been launched which provide staff with a benchmark of the services that Social Workers should provide, that employers should support and that families and children should expect.
- A review of the Quality Assurance Framework has been undertaken, and a new performance management structure has been introduced.
- In addition, two children’s homes have recently been inspected and positive feedback has been received. One report has been published with outcomes good in all areas and the other report will be shared once published by Ofsted.
The Council is also working with Hartlepool MBC as the council’s Sector Led Improvement Partner, who completed an on-site diagnostic visit in May 2025. Officers engaged directly with frontline Social Workers to discuss their cases to see how their practice could be strengthened. The feedback from Hartlepool was positive and they commented that progress is evident, that staff are committed to achieving improvement and they know children and their cases well.
A number of external improvement specialists have been engaged on a temporary basis to undertake specific pieces of work to address the recommendations in the Ofsted report, including priorities around children with disabilities, expertise in auditing cases and implementing recommendations and support with reviewing the offer to care experienced young people.
Cllr David Lonergan, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said “We know that our improvement journey is long-term and some improvements won’t happen overnight, but I’m incredibly proud of how everyone at the Council has responded to the Ofsted judgement and the commitment shown by everyone to make the required improvements.
“It’s also pleasing that external agencies are noting the improvements we have made and we will continue to build on this momentum and continue to progress our improvement journey.
“Ofsted will be carrying out a further monitoring visit in September, so I hope that they endorse the work we are doing and confirm we are moving in the right direction.
“We will continue to progress our improvement plan and ensure our children and families get the very best help and support which they need and deserve.”