Services for children in Cumbria are getting better and have the potential to improve even further.
This is the outcome of a review of what life is like for children and young people in the county.
The review says children in Cumbria are safe, a majority of them are healthy, educational standards are slightly better than in other parts of the country, most young people are prepared for working life and many of them are increasingly involved in their local community.
The Joint Area Review (JAR) looked at the way all local services for children contribute to their wellbeing. Nine inspectors from Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Adult Learning Inspectorate visited Cumbria in July and September. The JAR is a new, much more rigourous way of assessing children's services.
The review is the first one to take place since the council's education and children's social care services joined together to become Children's Services.
It identifies much improvement since the last review of services in 2005 and that the way services are run means they are well placed to improve even further in the future.
The reviewed services included most of the organisations, professions and other bodies that work with children in the county. The 2004 Children's Act give local authorities the lead responsibility for coordinating work to improve outcomes for children and young people aged 0 -19.
During their time in Cumbria, the inspectors:
- talked and listened to a number of children and young people they met at community centres and schools - especially in Workington
- talked with adults working with children and young people, including social workers, teachers, nurses, police officers and councillors
- spoke to parents and others caring for children
- met with school councils' representatives
- visited services used by children and young people to see them in action
The inspectors also looked at how well particular groups of children are doing, including those in council care or with a learning difficulty or disability.
Other findings from the review are:
- the work to create safer environments for children and young people is improving
- the council is working hard to protect young people who suffer or are at risk of suffering abuse or physical harm
- young people who are looked after by the council achieve slightly better results than similar young people in other areas
- young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities achieve well at school and a large number of them stay on in schools and colleges after they are 16.
- there is good support for young people to prepare for working life and few young people do not stay in education or get a job or training.
The review also highlighted areas where services need to improve, or more work needs to be done:
- too many young people smoke or drink alcohol
- some young people who need specialised help and therapy from the health services have to wait too long in some parts of the county
- too few young people who are looked after by the county are getting involved in planning for their future
- the number of young people who are excluded from secondary schools for a fixed amount of time is too high.
- The councils in the county are not doing enough to encourage young people who are looked after or who have learning difficulties to use the available facilities for leisure and recreation
- the council does not always recognise the cultural needs of Black and minority ethnic communities well
- there is too much anti-social behaviour in some communities
To address these issues the JAR has come up with recommendations for what the council and its partners should do now, and for the next six months, including increasing the participation of vulnerable children and young people, improve the range of residential respite care services for children and young people with learning difficulties, and extend support for young carers.
County Councillor Philip Chappelhow is the Cabinet member for Children's Services. He said:
"It is very satisfying to see that we have effective partnership working in Cumbria and that our strong management and leadership is recognised.
"Without wanting to single out one particular area, it is nevertheless to the credit of all partners that we are judged to have good prospects for improvement."
ENDS
Further information from Alison Lister, Media Team on 01228 606335Follow this link to view the report