Islington Council's children’s services have received another 'Outstanding' judgement from Ofsted, cementing the borough's commitment to improving the lives of its youngest residents.
The Ofsted inspection praised Islington’s approach across all key criteria, highlighting improvements in leadership, the quality of practice, and outcomes for children and young people.
Building on their last inspection in 2020, the borough was judged to be 'Outstanding' across all key areas in the report from Ofsted.
- Overall Effectiveness: "Children’s services are strong and effective. Leaders are ambitious and have high expectations for children’s outcomes."
- Leadership and Management: "Leaders are deeply committed to ensuring that children are well-supported and that services continually improve. The highly skilled leadership team has demonstrated a relentless drive to improve outcomes for children and young people."
- Quality of Practice: "The quality of social work practice is consistently high, with social workers building meaningful, trusting relationships with children and families."
- Outcomes for Children and Young People: "Children in Islington achieve well, with improved outcomes across education, health, and emotional well-being. The council is delivering a highly effective and tailored approach to safeguarding children."
- The Experiences and Progress of Care Leavers: "Care leavers benefit from a well-coordinated approach that helps them achieve positive outcomes. The council is ambitious for them, offering tailored support to meet their individual needs and ensuring they are well-prepared for adulthood and independence."
This recognition is a direct result of the council’s commitment to providing exceptional care, guidance, and support to its children and families. Islington’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Cllr Michelline Safi-Ngongo, expressed her pride in the outcome.
"This ‘Outstanding’ rating is a testament to the hard work of our children’s services staff. I am immensely proud of our teams who dedicate themselves every day to improving the lives of children and families across the borough. Their commitment to driving change and ensuring that children reach their full potential is evident in every aspect of their work."
Michelline Safi-Ngongo, Islington
Jon Abbey, Director of Children’s Services at Islington, echoed the council’s pride in their ‘Outstanding’ result.
"The ‘Outstanding’ judgement is testament to the hardworking, dedicated and exemplary children’s services staff. I am hugely proud of everyone across children’s services and grateful for the day-to-day work they do with children, young people and families. I am pleased that inspectors recognised the relentless and united approach from all staff, senior leaders and politicians, building on the previous inspection outcome to improve lives and outcomes for children and families."
Jon Abbey, Islington
Become a social worker in Islington
Islington’s children’s services team is known for its support, resources, and commitment to professional development. The borough's offer to social workers includes:
- Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
- A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance
- Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
- Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
- Excellent local government pension scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
- Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!
- Lead authority for Step Up to Social Work
- Social Work training through Social Work Apprenticeship Degree
- Highly valued Assessed and Supported Year in Education through Islington ASYE Academy.
- Access to Management and Coaching Apprenticeships
- Pathways Program for first time and experienced managers
- Opportunities to train as a Practice Educator
Islington offers a supportive environment where social workers can make a real difference. The borough champions professional development and career progression. If you’re looking for a role where you can be part of an 'Outstanding' team dedicated to improving the lives of children and young people, Islington could be the place for you.
Discover more about working in Islington and view current job opportunities in children’s services. Join an ambitious and supportive team committed to creating lasting change for children and families across the borough.