Haringey Council, heavily criticised following the deaths of Victoria Climbié in 2000 and Peter Connolly—known as Baby P—in 2007, has received the top Ofsted rating after a two-week inspection in January.
The report highlights strong leadership, exceptional social work practice and a culture where children’s voices shape decision making at every level.
Haringey Council leader Peray Ahmet said: “This outstanding judgement represents a major moment and tremendous achievement for Haringey. It demonstrates the borough’s progress and reaffirms the choices we have made to invest in services for children, young people and families.
“I want to thank my cabinet member for children, schools and families, Cllr Zena Brabazon, the director of children’s services, Ann Graham, children’s services teams and partners, for their tireless work. This rating reflects their passion, professionalism and deep commitment to supporting families, children and young people in our borough.”
Inspectors highlighted several areas of excellence, including strong and skilled social workers who “benefit from training and guidance and feel supported and valued,” effective and comprehensive early help services, and “exceptional” care leaver support from “highly skilled, experienced and committed practitioners.”
They also noted robust safeguarding arrangements, including a “highly effective” multi-agency safeguarding hub and political leaders who are “highly supportive and have prioritised children’s social care despite significant financial pressures.”
Ann Graham, Haringey Council’s corporate director of children’s services, said: “We are delighted that the inspectors have recognised the compassion and expertise that underpins our work. This result is the outcome of years of sustained improvement, dedication of our staff, and genuine partnership across our communities.
“Most importantly, it reflects the trust placed in us by children and families, and their valued contribution in shaping our services.”
Yvette Stanley, national director of regulation and social care at Ofsted, said it was “a significant achievement” and “testament to the hard work and tenacity of the leadership team past and present, managers and frontline staff, the wider council and [the council’s] safeguarding partners”.
The Audit Commission at one point placed Haringey among the bottom four councils nationally, and Ofsted ranked it among the bottom nine for children’s services in 2009.
George Meehan, the council leader at the time of both child deaths, resigned after a “damning” examination of the council’s social services functions following the Baby P case.
The council’s children’s services were taken out of special measures in February 2013.
Cllr Ahmet added: “We will now use this outstanding judgement as a platform to work even harder to improve outcomes for our children and young people. We do it for them, and the work does not stop here.”
The full inspection report is available on the Ofsted website.
