Cabinet:

Noted, endorsed and agreed to adopt the content of the Starting Well Improvement Plan 2025/26.

Report Title: Starting Well Improvement Plan Year Two May 2025 - May 2026

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People 

Summary:

Following Ofsted’s inspection in December 2023 and the Statutory Improvement Notice in March 2024, the Starting Well directorate developed and implemented an improvement plan, which was submitted to Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE) in May 2024.

One year on, the plan has been updated to reflect progress and sharpen priorities, informed by internal quality assurance activity and feedback from Ofsted and the DfE. Two Ofsted monitoring visits (October 2024 and March 2025) and two DfE reviews (November 2024 and June 2025) have acknowledged progress, while highlighting the need for accelerated pace of improvement. The revised plan focuses on strengthening management oversight, supervision, and quality assurance. The DfE welcomed the plan’s clearer focus on outcomes.

Key developments include collaboration with the DfE Improvement Advisor, Sector-Led Improvement Partners (LB Islington and Centre for Systemic Social Work) to improve our case management system (LiquidLogic) and relaunch our systemic practice model with staff, as well as with partners. This work began in late 2024/25, with impact expected this financial year.

Workforce development remains central to the plan. The second phase of the Starting Well reorganisation concludes this autumn, with continued focus on recruitment, retention, training, and accredited systemic development. We are also advancing the use of Artificial Intelligence and technology to reduce administrative tasks and increase time spent undertaking direct work with families.

Progress continues to be overseen by the independently chaired Practice Improvement Board (meeting every eight weeks) and the quarterly Practice Improvement Oversight Board, chaired by the Chief Executive and attended by senior leaders, elected members, partners and DfE representatives.

The next Ofsted monitoring visit is expected in autumn 2025, followed by a third DfE review in late 2025.

Cabinet:

Noted, endorsed and agreed to adopt the content of the Starting Well Improvement Plan 2025/26.