Devon children's services rated inadequate again

Children in Devon are "at risk of harm" due to continued failings in council services, a report has found.

The Ofsted report into children's services at Devon County Council rated the council as "inadequate" and said "serious weaknesses remain".

The council was previously rated inadequate in March 2020 for its children's services which cover children in care and children who need help and protection.

The council's chief executive said it would now "focus all our energies on continuing to work on our improvement journey".

The Ofsted report was carried out in September 2024 but was only published on Tuesday.

Devon County Council was under Conservative control at the time of the inspection but is now under no overall control following the local elections, with a new leader to be appointed on 22 May.

The report said there was a risk of harm particularly for "children experiencing neglect and domestic abuse, those at risk of extra-familial harm and care leavers living in unsuitable accommodation".

Inspectors found basic checks were "not completed consistently when children are accommodated in an emergency".

They said there was a "lack of immediate planning to ensure that children are helped and kept safe" and delays in child protection strategy discussions "leave some children at potential risk of ongoing significant harm".

The report also said: "When children are first identified as being at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation, the response is not sufficiently effective across the partnership for all children."

The report said there had been "increased stability in leadership" which had "an impact on practice, from a very low base".

It said there had been "decisive action" leading to "positive change" but "the current positive impact for children and care leavers is not widespread".

Donna Manson, chief executive of the county council, said: "We have much to do but we must also recognise that progress is being made.

"Our ethos is that children and young people must be in our hearts, in our minds and in our sight."

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