West Sussex’s child protection service has shown ‘significant improvement’ says minister

Edward Timpson, minister for children and families,

In a letter to county council leader, Louise Goldsmith, Edward Timpson, minister for children and families, congratulated the council on the ‘good progress’ it had made in addressing the issues raised in Ofsted’s 2010 inspection, when the council was rated inadequate for children’s safeguarding.

The council has since been inspected again and is now rated as ‘a service that is doing what is required to keep children and young people safe’ (adequate).

The letter went on to say that the Improvement Notice issued to the council following the 2010 inspection had now been lifted.

Peter Evans, cabinet member for children – start of life, said: “Our staff, managers and members should be praised for the hard work they have put in to make these changes come about. This is a great achievement, however, we want to improve further and I know everyone will be working towards an even better outcome when we are next inspected.”

Mr Timpson said the ‘improvement journey’ made by the county council should be shared with other local authorities who are facing similar challenges.