Newham's Children and Young People's services are on an ambitious journey to achieve an 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating by 2025, a significant transformation from their 'Inadequate' rating in 2019. This progress was highlighted at the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting on Monday, June 29, 2026.
Laura Eden, Corporate Director of Children and Young People, presented the directorate's progress over the past 20 months, emphasizing a strategic focus on identifying and addressing disproportion, inequality, and structural racism. This approach, which has been shared with the Senior Leadership Forum, aims to improve services and outcomes through dedicated leadership in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The primary reasons for the 'Inadequate' Ofsted rating in 2019 for Newham Children's Services were workforce instability, weak practice consistency, and limited organizational confidence. The lead inspector described the service as broken.
Specifically, there was high staff turnover, with only 35% permanent staffing, and all senior leaders except the Principal Social Worker were interim. Management was described as Command and Control
with a toxic
culture, and social workers did not feel they could affect change due to a lack of a coherent approach or model of practice.
Key to this improvement has been the implementation of visible and authentic leadership, a systemic and relational practice model known as 'Circles of Support', significant workforce investment and development, data-informed decision-making, and an anti-racist approach. These efforts have led to increased workforce stability, more consistent practice, and stronger leadership within the directorate.
Measuring Progress and Tangible Outcomes
The directorate's journey over the past 20 months has led to improvements in workforce stability, practice consistency, and leadership.
These are key indicators being used to measure progress towards the 'Outstanding' Ofsted rating. Specific outcomes mentioned include growing permanent staffing,
developing leaders at every level,
strengthening supervision and reflective practice,
creating career pathways and supporting wellbeing,
and building professional confidence and consistency.
The focus has shifted from compliance to impact, with an aim of Improving lived experiences of children,
embedding learning cultures,
deepening participation and coproduction,
and strengthening multi-agency accountability.
Addressing Disproportion and Inequality
The 'anti-racist approach' is being embedded across services within the Children's Directorate. This involves using data to understand and tackle disproportionality, engaging in courageous conversations and reflective supervision,
and celebrating identity, culture and lived experience
to drive more equitable outcomes for children. As evidence of reduction in disproportion, inequality, and structural racism, school suspensions for White and Black Caribbean pupils have decreased, and the re-referral rate for Black British individuals has gone down. Furthermore, workforce stability and diversity have improved significantly, with permanent staffing increasing from 40% to 80%, and 85% of managers and leaders now being from Black and Global Majority backgrounds, reflecting the community served. Policies and terms of reference now include an EDI statement, and reciprocal mentoring with Black and Global Majority women is encouraged, alongside promoting allies and accomplices.
Workforce Investment and Development
The 'workforce investment and development' has specifically impacted the quality of services by leading to Workforce stability and Practice Excellence.
This includes Growing permanent staffing,
Developing leaders at every level,
Strengthening supervision and reflective practice,
Creating career pathways and supporting wellbeing,
and Building professional confidence and consistency.
These developments are presented as key practices that have contributed to the Directorate's journey from an Inadequate
Ofsted rating to aiming for Outstanding.
Further Information
More details on the Health and Wellbeing Board meeting can be found in the Public reports pack. Additional supplementary agendas are also available: Supplementary Agenda 1, Supplementary Agenda 2, and Supplementary Agenda 3.
