Ofsted praise the 'Good' progress made in Croydon

Croydon’s children’s services have been awarded a ‘Good’ rating by Ofsted in their October 2024 inspection, reflecting notable improvements made across the borough.

This positive result comes amidst the Council's ongoing financial challenges, increasing service demands, and the complexities of managing London’s largest borough.

Inspectors praised Croydon’s leadership team, highlighting their strong advocacy for children, effective corporate parenting, and commitment to listening to the voices of children and care leavers. They acknowledged the borough’s improvement since its previous ‘Good’ rating in 2020, particularly in the areas of care for children in care and care leavers, which were commended for their creative and sensitive approaches.

Notable Achievements Recognised by Ofsted

• Support for care leavers: significant improvements have been made in services for care leavers, with social workers and personal advisers helping them pursue their aspirations. Efforts to increase affordable housing options for care leavers, in collaboration with housing colleagues, were highlighted as a strength.
• Young ambassadors: the Council’s work with care-experienced young ambassadors was celebrated for influencing decision-making and improving services.
• Skilled workforce: Croydon has successfully increased its permanent children’s social care workforce to 80%, with staff commending the borough’s diversity, strong peer support, and effective management.

Inspectors noted that children at risk of harm are safeguarded quickly and that dedicated social workers develop positive relationships with the children they support. Services for disabled children were also recognised for being responsive, advocating strongly for children’s needs to be met. Executive Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, expressed his pride in the achievements of the children’s services staff:

“This is good news for Croydon, and testament to the hard work and dedication of our children’s services staff. They work tirelessly to care for and support our children and young people, and their families, every day, often in the most difficult circumstances."

“I also want to thank the children and young people who have worked with us to improve the services we provide. My priority remains to listen to them and their voices are making a real difference to all children in Croydon. I am particularly pleased that Ofsted recognised our young ambassadors for their important work."

“This is a good report, but we are far from complacent. Some areas still require improvement. We want to provide consistently good help and protection to all our young people, at the earliest possible stage. We know where we need to get better, with plans under way – now we will be stepping up the pace.”

Jason Perry, Croydon

Ofsted identified some areas for improvement in Croydon. Debbie Jones, Corporate Director for Children, Young People, and Education, believes that Croydon has the team in place to address these challenges and improve outcomes across the borough:

“Croydon is a busy borough with many challenges, but it is an incredibly special place to work. We are privileged to have so many caring, committed, and talented social workers; I’m really pleased that they enjoy coming to work and that they feel supported here in Croydon. There are areas where we need to get better, but this is good, sustainable progress – a strong foundation on which to build for the future.”

Debbie Jones, Croydon

Croydon’s good Ofsted rating reflects the borough’s determination and the dedication of its social workers. With continued focus on improvement, Croydon aims to provide consistent, high-quality support to all its children and young people.

Discover social work job opportunities in Croydon and find out how you can be part of the team making a difference.