Luton social workers' caseloads to be halved after critical Ofsted report - with £1.7m extra funding approved

Yesterday (Monday), the executive committee approved a funding package of around £1.7m for an overhaul of children’s services, with much of the expenditure earmarked for acquiring extra staff.

The council also plans to set up a social work academy, costing more than £770,000.

These measures are in response to children's services being rated 'Inadequate' overall after a ten-day Ofsted inspection in January. That was despite £17.5m being invested over the past six years.

At yesterday's executive meeting, Labour Saints councillor Javed Hussain asked what the maximum social worker caseloads are in Luton.

Director of children’s operations services Allison Parkinson said: “Some of our caseloads had gone up to more than 40.

“But we are significantly reducing them. A maximum of 16 to 18 is considered within best practice.”

Councillor Hussain said: “That’s 50 per cent less if they were going up to 40?”

Ms Parkinson explained that not all the social workers' caseloads were as high, but said: “Particularly in our assessment team we saw high caseloads.

“And we saw them in the family safeguarding team. Our looked after children team has been more stable.

“The area where we were seeing really high was in the assessment team.

“So for us to achieve best practice we should be aiming around 18.”

Councillor Hussain also asked why three people were required in the quality assurance team, rather than two.

Ms Parkinson replied: “It’s based on the amount of work that we want to undertake because we’re in a period of improvement.

“We know practice is poor in some areas. Part of that quality assurance isn’t just about checking the quality.

“It’s also about delivering the learning and promoting the practice conversations.

“So it’s about creating that demand-led response during the period of significant improvement that’s required.”

Ms Parkinson had introduced the report, saying: “This describes the draft improvement plan and the activities to address the shortfalls in the service.

“This is particularly for children under the umbrella of help and protection, and to build on those children who are looked after and care leavers.

“A further report will come back to the executive for final sign-off of the children’s improvement plan, and you also have the financial resource report.”

The council expects Ofsted to return for a full re-inspection early in 2022.

Labour Farley councillor Mahmood Hussain, executive member for children’s services, said: “In light of the Ofsted report there are a number of recommendations.

“What I am asking the executive is to endorse the ambition and commitment of the council to children and families.

“To achieve this, the authority must provide the right service, at the right time, to make the difference for children’s outcomes at the earliest opportunity.

“This will require significant work for the department to consider around children and families being supported, and to focus on keeping the children in their family.”