A recent Ofsted inspection has uncovered serious failings within Somerset Council’s children’s services, revealing that vulnerable children are frequently placed in “unlawful, unregistered” children’s homes on a temporary basis. As a result, the council’s rating has been downgraded from ‘good’ across the board to ‘requires improvement’ in nearly all assessed areas.
The report highlights a decline in service quality over the past four years, stating that while many children benefit from strong practices, there are nonetheless significant inconsistencies in care. Key issues include delayed child and family assessments caused by workload pressures, leading to children’s needs being overlooked for too long.
Inspectors noted that children often face repeated placement moves due to reliance on unregistered homes that fail to offer the stability and security these vulnerable young people require. Although senior managers monitor these placements and encourage providers to register officially, the temporary nature of these arrangements contributes to instability.
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Concerns were also raised about the council’s handling of child neglect cases. Some children endure neglect within their families for extended periods before the council steps in, and interventions sometimes end prematurely without assurance that improvements are sustained. This leaves children exposed to ongoing neglect that fails to meet their basic needs.
Despite these shortcomings, the report praises Somerset Council’s effective support for young carers through a comprehensive multi-agency approach, as well as its skilled social workers who build strong relationships with children on protection plans. The council’s targeted efforts to combat grooming and county lines exploitation were also commended, with specialist services reducing risks for some young people.
Additionally, the council is recognized for good work supporting homeless youth, unaccompanied children, and care leavers. Ofsted scores Somerset as ‘requires improvement’ in three categories but ‘good’ in the care leavers category.
In response, Cllr Heather Shearer, the council’s lead member for children’s services, acknowledged the disappointing overall rating but highlighted the positive aspects and pledged to address the flagged issues. Emphasizing the urgent need to expand foster carer recruitment, she urged residents to consider fostering as a transformative opportunity for children and carers alike.
Cllr Leigh Redman, chair of the council’s children and education scrutiny committee, affirmed the commitment to swift improvements and continuous oversight, ensuring every child in Somerset receives timely and appropriate support.