Management Information Sheet

I would just like to make you aware that on 6 July we received the announcement that Ofsted will be carrying out an inspection of children in need of help and protection, children looked after and care leavers and NSCB in Norfolk commencing 7 July. This is a no notice inspection that will cover a four week period. Key lines of enquiry will be drawn from what Ofsted already know about Norfolk and themes that emerge from performance data.

A small group of inspectors arrived at County Hall Tuesday morning to prepare for the inspection and to start looking at Children’s Services to enable them to determine their Key Lines of Enquiry for the inspection. They will also identify the first 20 case audits with further cases being identified next week for tracking. They will be off site for all of the next week preparing for the inspection and interviews in the following week and reading the Library of Evidence we have submitted. The full team (of up to 10 inspectors) will be carrying out audits and interviews across the county in the following week commencing Tuesday 21 July completing this work on Thursday 30 July. Initial feedback will be given to the Director of Children’s Services and the chair of the NSCB on the final Thursday afternoon of the inspection.

Schools may become involved through the case audits or through any lines of enquiries the inspectors make through case audits. Families of selected cases will be contacted by inspectors and in week 3 of the inspection they will also be in attendance at core groups, child protection conferences, LAC reviews and child in need meetings. If you or your safeguarding leads attend any of these multi agency meetings it may be that inspectors will want to speak to you about your involvement in the case and your partnership working. We may make further contact if one of the initial cases is a child or sibling at your school. The inspectors will be looking at many other cases and we will inform you as soon as we are aware of their requirements – this maybe at very short notice.

Please can you communicate this to any relevant staff in your organisation so that they are aware of the inspection and ask that they prepare for any involvement that may be required.

For more information please contact Safeguarding Adviser Kelly Waters (01603 307729) or Inspection & Development Project Manager Lisa Flood-Powell 01603 222447.