Westminster City council’s children’s services have been rated outstanding by Ofsted for the third time in a row.
The service received an outstanding grade across five judgements.
The council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, who Westminster jointly delivers Children’s Services with, have become the first two local authorities to receive an outstanding judgement for three consecutive inspections, spanning 10 years.
Ofsted carried out their inspection in November 2024, seeking children and young people’s experiences of help, protection and care given to them by council staff and evaluating the actions of council leaders to improve these services.
The inspection report outlines several strengths of Children’s Services in Westminster, including the dedication from social workers to inform their practice with children’s views and aspirations, their prompt responses to risk, and their efforts to help children remain with their families.
Social workers were specifically commended in the report for their highly skilled responses to risk for children, particularly how they and other council staff support children and families who have experienced domestic abuse.
The report also highlights the high quality of care provided by the council for disabled children, including timely assessments of their needs, followed by comprehensive support packages tailored to meet those needs.
Westminster’s deputy leader and cabinet member for children and public protection, Cllr Aicha Less said: “I am immensely proud of the outcome of this inspection, which reflects the inspiring dedication and commitment of our staff who show up every day to support children and families in Westminster.
“It is especially motivating to see the positive impact of our services across a range of areas, from early help programmes and strong referral connections with partner agencies to the comprehensive and culturally sensitive assessment support provided for disabled children.
“We can’t do what we do by working in isolation, so it’s important to recognise the collaboration and contribution of other services; our fantastic schools and the voluntary and community sector.
“Receiving an ‘Outstanding’ result for the third consecutive year is an incredible achievement.”
Pictured top: Free school meals being delivered at a school (Picture: Westminster City council)