Picture: Cllr Sam Bromiley, Leader of the Conservative Group
Conservative councillors have welcomed today’s news that standards in Children’s Services have improved dramatically.
A recent inspection by Ofsted of South Gloucestershire Council’s Children’s Services department has found that since 2019, the pace of progress in the department has accelerated and services for children in need of help, care and support have significantly improved.
As a result, the service is now rated ‘Good’ overall.
The improvement journey was kickstarted in 2021 with a £10m investment into Children’s Services made by the council’s previous Conservative administration. The then Conservative Cabinet recognised the challenges that needed to be overcome and took immediate action to drive improvements.
Staff in the Children’s Services team, led by service director Chris Sivers, have also played a key role in driving improvements, working tirelessly to address the issues highlighted by the inspectors.
Cllr Sam Bromiley, Leader of the Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council, said: “I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to every single member of staff in Children’s Services who has contributed to getting the department to where it is now.
“The improvement journey has not been without its challenges but today’s news is a major achievement, and I would like to thank staff for their exceptional hard work throughout.
“The Ofsted report is clear that strong leadership and increased levels of investment are two key factors that have driven these changes. As the Cabinet member for Children’s Services under the previous Conservative administration, improving services was my top priority, and I’m delighted to see that the investments we made have paid off.
“While the changes made to the service under the previous administration have been significant, it’s important that the council’s current Liberal Democrat/Labour administration continues to prioritise this vital work in the interests of children and young people in South Glos.
“The Conservative Group will continue to push for further improvements in Children’s Services and to ensure it remains an area of focus for the coalition.”
