'Outstanding' children's services are no longer under governmental intervention

‘Outstanding, amazing and inspirational’ - these are some of the words that have been used to describe the level of improvement achieved by the professionals of North East Lincolnshire’s Children’s Services. This month the directorate will experience one of its biggest changes in the last three years: through hard work, dedication and initiative Children’s Services are now no longer under governmental intervention.

In 2004 an OfSTED inspection declared North East Lincolnshire as the ‘worst performing authority in England’, noting key issues around education and children’s services. Acting on these findings, the Government intervened in the borough’s financial and children’s services.

Since then, North East Lincolnshire Council has adopted an innovative and imaginative new strategy to combat these issues. The Children First Strategic Partnership was established and over the past three years has helped to deliver impressive results.

In 2007, just three years after the initial inspection, North East Lincolnshire Council’s Children’s Services had leapt from zero to two stars out of a possible five. This year, the directorate has received further praise and hopes to achieve three stars or more when next inspected.

Such revolutionary changes have put North East Lincolnshire among only three other local authorities who can claim to be improving at such a tremendous rate. And since 2004, the council has been one of the first in the UK to put into practice several new and innovative schemes. The Care Trust Plus, Building Schools for the Future and the Children’s Trust, along with numerous other initiatives, have rejuvenated the methods through which support and education are provided to local children. These new partnerships are already producing visible successes, and as pioneers in many different schemes, other local authorities have turned to North East Lincolnshire for advice and guidance in their own projects.

Councillor Margaret Cracknell, portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said: “It is a most wonderful achievement and pleasure to watch the changes that have occurred throughout the Borough. Never before have we had such a dedicated, skilled and enthusiastic team of professionals working daily to support our children and offer them a fulfilling and happy life. As government intervention ceases I look forward to the coming years that will undoubtedly bring further successes to North East Lincolnshire. Few can claim to have worked as hard as the staff of Children’s Services and for that, I thank them.”