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Fostering service wins ‘outstanding’ praise
County Coun Susie Charles
Lancashire’s fostering service has been given the ultimate accolade by Ofsted and judged as outstanding.
The service, which is responsible for placing hundreds of looked after children with foster carers in the county – is Outstanding, according to the Ofsted report.
The Ofsted inspection was carried out just after the Evening Post launched its fostering campaign to urge 1,000 new enquiries from foster carers within six months.
The campaign was launched on October 3 and has already almost hit its goal with around 948 new telephone and online enquiries since the start of the campaign.
Ofsted inspectors were shown cuttings of the Evening Post campaign and were impressed.
County Coun Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “I could not be more pleased about this judgement – it is so well deserved.
“Four years ago, Ofsted said the county council’s performance on fostering was unsatisfactory and the transformation to receive their highest possible rating represents a tremendous success.
“This is down to the skill and commitment of our staff and foster carers, and has happened at the same time as savings have been achieved through streamlining. Ultimately, this is about finding loving homes for children and young people. This is an important service and everyone concerned can be proud of what they have achieved.”
The service received an Outstanding judgement for each aspect of its work which was examined by Ofsted: keeping children healthy, protecting them from harm, helping them do well and have fun, enabling them to make a positive contribution, and the organisation of the service itself, which has recently seen a £120,000 reduction in management and administration costs.
County Coun Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said: “Surely fostering is one of the most important roles any local authority can carry out. It is our chance to enter the life of a child in need and help turn things around. I know we have a fostering service which is second to none. Now the rest of the world knows it too.”
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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