Review on local childrens services

Report for children and young people on services in Warrington

Inspectors visited Warrington in 2007 to conduct a Joint Area Review (JAR) to find out what life is like for children and young people in the area. Having talked to lots of young people, as well as adults who work with and provide services for children, the inspectors decided that local services work well together to protect and support young people. The inspectors also thought that the support available for families was outstanding.

In its formal response to the inspectors' review, Warrington Borough Council has set out a clear action plan. This plan includes making sure that children and young people know about the findings. The inspectors' report is set out below. A hard copy version is also available in other languages and alternative formats, including Braille, British Sign Language and audio, on request.

The council also wants to hear from children and young people what they think of the inspectors' review. Young people can send their comments via email to mkretz@warrington.gov.uk, post their comments on the http://www.wot2do.org/ forum or call 01925 443301.

Warrington Borough Council's formal response to the inspectors'review, including a detailed action plan, is available at Warrington JAR ActionPlan

Joint area review

Report for children and young people in Warrington

Report for children and young people about the services they receive in Warrington

Why should I read this?

The law says that inspectors must look at and then report on how well local services serve children and young people in an area. This is called a "review". Inspectors visited your area recently. You might like to read this, or the full report which you can find on Ofsted's website, to find out what they had to say.

What did the inspectors do?

Eight inspectors visited Warrington in July and September 2007 so that they could get a feel of what life is like for children and young people in the area. They:

�� talked/listened to a number of children and young people

�� talked with adults working with children and young people (such as social workers, teachers, youth workers, nurses, doctors, police officers and councillors)

�� spoke to parents and other people caring for children

�� met with school councils' representatives and members of the Youth Parliament

�� heard from the council and other agencies what they think about the services they provide for children

�� read a lot of reports; and

�� visited a number of neighbourhoods in the area.

The inspectors looked at services for children and young people to ensure they were properly safeguarded as well as services for children who are being looked after by the local authority and for children and young people with a learning difficulty or disability. They also looked at how well local services are working together to improve the child and adolescent mental health services, reduce substance misuse and improve services and provision for young people aged 14-19.

How well are children and young people safeguarded in Warrington?

Children and young people are safeguarded well. Local services work closely together to protect and support them. Family support services are outstanding.

How good are local services for children who are being looked after by the council in Warrington?

The council works hard to make sure children and young people in their care are healthy and do well in school. Young people leaving care receive good help in finding accommodation and many succeed in finding employment or continuing with their education or training.

How good are local services for children and young people who have a learning difficulty and/or a disability in Warrington?

Local services are good. Children and young people who have a learning difficulty or disability generally do well in school and are able to take part in a wide range of school activities. There is good support to help them when they leave school.

How good are local services for children and young people who have emotional and mental health needs?

These services are improving well although they don't always meet everyone's needs quickly enough and, at the moment, there is not enough suitable help for young people over 16 years.

How well do local services work together to reduce substance misuse?

Local services work well together and offer good support to young people, their families and carers. Young people are getting good help in their schools and local community. Some young people have been trained as peer educators and produced some high quality publicity materials. The council and its partners know there is a lot of work still to be done to reduce the number of young people with alcohol related problems.

How well are local services working together to improve outcomes for young people aged 14-19?

Schools and colleges work very closely together to make sure that children aged 14-16 are successful. Services for young people aged 16 and over are getting better although not enough young people are currently taking part in work-based learning.

How well are local services led and managed?

Services are well managed and the council and its partners have imaginative and challenging ambitions to continue to improve services for all children and young people in Warrington.

What should services do to improve services further?

Things that need doing straight away

Find good ways of telling children and young people in the area about this report.

Make sure that initial assessments in all child protection cases are regularly checked to meet the needs of the children involved.

Things that need doing over the next six months

Improve the service for young people over 16 years who have emotional and mental health needs

When cases move from and to family support services make sure the arrangements are clear.

Find ways to help children and young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities become involved in their service planning

Things that need doing over the longer term

Develop more flexible and responsive services to address the needs of looked after children with more complex emotional and behavioural difficulties

Make sure that work-based learning providers and the voluntary sector are more involved in the strategic development of 14-19 provision