To receive the latest Ofsted Report.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services – Councillor Bye and Director of Children’s Services – Nancy Meehan outlined the submitted Ofsted Inspection report published on 26 February 2026 and responded to questions.  Key updated included:

• Progress on housing and support for care experienced young people, including the opening of a Care Experienced Hub at Occombe.
• Improvements to ensure children were placed in regulated accommodation, and un-regulated accommodation only where it was in the best interest of the young person.
• Challenges around supervision standards and consistency with supervision rates recently risen from 70% to 96%.

The following questions were raised:

·                While supervision frequency had improved to 96%, what were the current quality assurance findings?

·                How were managers being supported to improve reflective practice?

·                What criteria were used to determine when an unregistered placement was unavoidable?  What steps were taken to minimise risk to young people placed in such settings?

·                What timelines were anticipated for the new residential home, and what barriers remain regarding Ofsted registration?

·                What strategies were being used to attract carers for the most complex young people?

·                How will transport barriers to Occombe be addressed long?term?

·                How many young people have engaged with the new Care Experienced Hub since opening?

A note on options to buy accommodation for care?experienced young people would be circulated to Members.

The following responses were received:

·                The Council has relaunched both the supervision template and the supervision policy.  While some supervision records were excellent, others have been limited to one or two lines.  This inconsistency was highlighted in the recent and previous inspections.  Having increased supervision levels, the next stage was to drive quality improvement.

·                There were three children in unregistered provision at the time of the inspection; one has since moved, and one new admission was expected.  These placements were only used when they safeguard the young person’s welfare and allow them to access the training or support they need.  Ofsted recognised that we know each case well and make informed decisions but were not able to support unregistered provision.

·                Funding for the Residential Home becomes available by 2028, but the Council was seeking to access it earlier.  Registration with Ofsted currently takes around 12 months, and the property that was previously identified was deemed unsuitable.  The Council was now working with a senior Ofsted Inspector to refine our criteria and expedite the process.

·                The Council has recruited foster carers over the last year, but this has been balanced by several retirements.  The regional fostering hub was not currently meeting sufficiency for our most complex children, which was why local capacity building remains a core priority.

·                The new care experience hub at Occombe was already benefiting young people, with two progressing into training opportunities.  Transport was being supported through bus route 60 and familiarisation provided by personal assistants to get the young people used to travelling there.  The Council was also working with Strategic Transport to ensure sustainable access.

Resolved (unanimously):

That the Children and Young People’s Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Board thank all those who are involved in delivering services to our young people and who have contributed to Torbay maintaining a ‘Good’ rating with Ofsted.