School inspections, adult social care assurance, profiteering in the childcare market, and workforce challenges were among the many topics discussed at the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC).
More than 1,000 people attended the event in Bournemouth from 29 November to 1 December, which was jointly organised by the LGA, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services.
The conference is aimed at those from local and central government, voluntary organisations and the private sector with an interest in the provision of effective services for children, young people, their families, and vulnerable adults, including health, social care and education.
Among the speakers was Amanda Spielman, Ofsted’s outgoing Chief Inspector, who told councils and directors of children’s services that she wanted to be “proportionate” during inspections.
Ofsted has come under increased levels of scrutiny following the death of headteacher Ruth Perry after an inspection at her school.
In January, Ofsted’s new Chief Inspector, Martyn Oliver, announced that inspections will be halted until assessors have been properly trained in protecting the wellbeing of school staff, and pledged to launch an inquiry into Ofsted’s involvement in Ruth Perry’s death.
Responding to NCASC delegates’ questions on single-word judgements and the pressure of Ofsted inspections, Ms Spielman said: “I have been very clear that I want inspections to be done ‘with’, not done ‘to’.”
Ms Spielman did note the significant improvements that have been made by councils’ children’s services teams across the country, praising “ambitious local leadership” as driving improvements in the standards of care delivered.
“We’re seeing local authorities working directly with families with clear practice models. We’re seeing ambitious leaders who are clear on their direction and expectations, and they are key to getting this right.”
The former Ofsted Chief Inspector also echoed LGA warnings of the risks posed by a rise in the number of unregulated schools and children’s homes. Last year, the LGA reiterated its long-standing call for councils to be given greater oversight of such settings, and powers to intervene and act where necessary.
Ms Spielman said that increasing demand for places meant that unregistered homes are being used as a stop-gap, with some particularly vulnerable children ending up living in them for long periods.
Meanwhile, Children’s Minister David Johnston MP told NCASC delegates that the Government is looking at how the childcare market operates and the “extent of profiteering”. His intervention came after new LGA analysis showed that the cost to councils of childcare placements has drastically increased since 2010 (see ‘Broken market’ for children’s social care placements).
The minister also said that he “understood the pressures local government is under” and that he knew “demand was going up and the nature of the demand is very complex”.
Also speaking at NCASC was Care Minister Helen Whately MP, who urged councils to view the new Care Quality Commission assurance programme for adult social care in England “not as a threat, but as an opportunity”. She said: “So much about what people know about care is anecdote… we need to know about what is happening and why.”
She also addressed some of the workforce challenges impacting on the sector, saying that, although the health and care visa helped fill vacancies, in the “long term, immigration is not the answer for social care”.
Presentations from NCASC 2023 are available at www.local.gov.uk/events/past-event-presentations. NCASC 2024 takes place in Liverpool from 27 to 29 November, vist ncasc.info