Children’s Social Care Services rated Good by Ofsted
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Children’s Social Care Services in Wolverhampton have once again been rated Good by Ofsted, with inspectors highlighting 'outstanding services for children in care and care leavers'.
Inspectors visited the city in January to carry out a short inspection. In their report, published today (Thursday 18 June, 2026), they judged the experiences and progress of children in care, and of care leavers, to be Outstanding. The impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families was rated Good, and overall effectiveness found to be Good.
Inspectors concluded that the lives of the most vulnerable children and families are 'improved by strong social work practice, within multi-agency teams, which meets their needs at the earliest opportunity'. They also found the council to be 'at the forefront of national reforms of children’s social care', with leaders having a 'detailed understanding' of their services and making 'significant achievements' in placement stability, co-production, and workforce stability.
Strong leadership and 'significant and sustained investment' have underpinned improvements in placement stability, co-production with children, and workforce stability, resulting in 'outstanding services for children in care and care leavers'.
A 'comprehensive' performance management and quality assurance framework enables senior leaders to scrutinise and challenge practice, while the Aiming for Excellence Plan is used to address inconsistency. Feedback from children and families is actively used to shape improvement, with lessons shared and acted upon.
Leaders work effectively with partners to provide timely help and prevent escalation, supported by strong multi-agency services. The corporate parenting approach is effective and has evolved into a 'community parenting' model which is expanding opportunities for care leavers.
Children and families benefit from services that identify need early and respond effectively. The 24-hour Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub provides timely assessment of risk, while the Family Help service supports children 'at the earliest opportunity'. Social workers identify needs in a timely way, balancing risks and strengths and drawing on specialist support where needed. Effective child protection planning ensures children are seen and risks are closely monitored, with many families making meaningful progress through support that is proportionate to their needs. Children’s voices are actively sought and used to influence and shape their plans.
Specialist and partnership services further strengthen outcomes, with disabled children, homeless young people, and those in private fostering arrangements well supported. Systems to track children missing education are robust.
Children in care are supported at the right time, following 'significant efforts' to help families stay together. Support enables many children to remain with extended family members where safe and appropriate, while those who do enter care actively contribute to decision making and 'benefit from well-matched placements' with carers who provide the love, security, and stability they need, feel supported and listened to.
Social workers 'build strong, trusted relationships', and care and pathway plans are written sensitively so children can understand decisions about their care. Adoption is considered early, with children’s best interests central to matching and strong support provided to adopters. Children are also kept safe through effective responses if they go missing.
Care leavers achieve particularly strong outcomes. They have 'positive, enduring and reliable relationships' with their young people’s advisers, who know them well, visit regularly and tailor support to their needs. Advisers are seen as 'powerful advocates' who support them to be ambitious and achieve their goals.
The Care Leavers Independence Collective has a 'powerful voice', with senior leaders seeking and acting on feedback, and care leavers influencing decision-makers directly. The Local Offer for care leavers is ‘comprehensive and meets their needs', while the council’s Oasis Hub is described as a 'successful and positive space' offering activities, advice, and access to services, and supporting smooth transitions into adulthood.
Outcomes in education, employment and training are strong, with inspectors describing the high number of care leavers in higher education as a 'significant achievement'. Meanwhile, staff report that they feel ‘well supported and trained,’ with improved supervision, clear career pathways and a stable workforce enabling practitioners to reflect on and continually improve their practice.
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “I am really pleased that Ofsted has once again recognised the strength of our Children’s Social Care services, and in particular the outstanding support we provide to children in care and care leavers.
“This report reflects the dedication, skill and compassion of our staff and partners, who work every day to support some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our city and help them to achieve their full potential.
“While this is an achievement we should all be proud of, we are not complacent. We know there is always more to do, and we remain committed to raising standards still further so that every child and family in Wolverhampton receives the very best support, at the right time.”
