A WATCHDOG has praised services for Hampshire children in care.

Ofsted has graded Hampshire County Council’s Children’s Services as ‘outstanding’.

The service has received the top score across all areas including overall effectiveness, the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families, the  experiences and progress of children who need help and protection and the experiences and progress of children in care and care leavers.

The report comes after inspectors rated the service ‘good with outstanding features’ in 2014.

The Ofsted report published last week found that social workers are highly skilled at building meaningful relationships with children, engaging them in their assessments and plans.

It also highlighted the county council’s political and corporate support and financial investment saying it has helped the leadership team to implement “an ambitious transformation programme”.

In the report, inspectors also said: “Children in care benefit from high-quality support, which is making a real difference to their outcomes. Management oversight of practice is clear and considered, ensuring that children’s plans progress at pace. Children’s lives consistently improve as a result of the help they receive.”

The document says when young people aged 16 and 17 are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, their needs are quickly assessed and every effort is made to support young people to remain with their families.

“Adolescent contextual safeguarding is understood well within the Hampshire context. The response of the strategic and operational partnerships to vulnerable young people at risk of exploitation is highly effective. When potential vulnerabilities such as the risk of trafficking or radicalisation are identified, prompt action is taken, and risk is reduced,” the report states.

Hampshire County Council leader, Councillor Keith Mans, and former executive lead member for children’s services, said: “This is quite simply the best possible rating that Ofsted can give.  

“I would like to congratulate and thank director Steve Crocker and assistant director Stuart Ashley, for their exceptional leadership of the service, as well as all the staff who work extremely hard to do their very best for Hampshire’s vulnerable children and young people. ”