Coventry’s Child Protection Service is getting up to scratch, but improvements are slow and must be increased, government inspectors say.

The Social Services department has been praised for making a “positive start” in getting the Child Protection Service up to the required standards.

But a report by the government’s Social Services Inspectorate says there is still a lot of work to be done, and staffing needs to improved as morale is low and case records need to be kept to a good standard

Changes that need to be made include:

• rebuilding children’s services to an acceptable standard
• improving co-ordination and consistency across all children’s services
• a closer scrutiny of performance management systems
• recruiting and developing a competent workforce.

The inspectors said that the pace of the department’s progress was slower than hoped, but this was partly due to a series of interim arrangements that had been in place in between inspections.

An inspection in 1998 revealed “serious deficiencies” in the child protection service, and Coventry was put on “special measures” to force it to bring its standards up to scratch.

Following the latest inspection, it has been revealed that Coventry has met half the recommendations made by experts.

The report praised councillors for demonstrating a “keen awareness for the serious issues which they have confronted”.

An extra £740,000 has been invested in the service and new procedures mean that social respond to child protection referrals quicker than previously.

The allocation rate of children to social workers has also improved, and 99 per cent of children now have a named social worker.

The report said:

“Our key findings indicate that a positive start has been made in many aspects of work. The  department has succeeded in introducing new policies and had put new procedures in place.

“We are confident that on the evidence of this inspection, managers and councillors will continue to drive forward the improvements needed. A solid foundation has been laid.”

Cllr Kevin Maton, Cabinet Member (Social Services) said:

“Overall the situation that the Social Service Department found itself in during 1998 was not something that could be fully dealt with inside a year.

“Councillors responsible for children’s services since 98 have been recognised in the report as having taken the findings of that inspection seriously and, with cross-party support, the council has been shown to be committed to improvements.”

Jonathan Smith, Strategic Director (Social Inclusion) said:

“This report indicates that we have come a long way, but with some way to go.

“This is as expected and in the main, we agree with the SSI’s findings.

“However, it should also be remembered that this report covers the situation as it was last October – some eight months ago – and the situation today is different again.

“We have appointed a new head of children’s service; we are looking are different ways to improve the recruitment and retention of or staff; we are aiming to invest in our buildings; and will now be working to new government guidelines regarding methods of record keeping and case recording.

“I am optimistic that we will so regain the full confidence of both the government and the people of Coventry in our child protection services.”