Children's services over budget and Ofsted delay

Children’s services in Devon are facing a series of major issues with massive debt, a delayed Ofsted report and the departure of the head of department.

A government bailout of £95m was announced in March - known as the "safety valve" agreement - which was supposed to "put the authority on a sustainable financial footing".

In a report due to be discussed later, it has emerged Devon County Council has already overspent by almost £15m in six months.

Campaigners said the service was not being properly funded and it was children and families who ended up paying the price.

The Conservative-run council said it was facing increased demand for education, health and care plans for children, and the cost of supplying services was increasing.

Children's services in Devon were found to be "inadequate" in January 2020, with education inspector Ofsted citing "serious failures in the services provided to children and young people".

Elaine Davis-Kimble, from campaign group Devon SEND Parents and Carers for Change, said services for children and young people had suffered from years of neglect.

She said: "Under the safety valve scheme, councils are being forced to cut education, health and care plans, and cram more and more young people with the most complex needs into mainstream schools.

"This is forcing more and more parents and carers to have to educate their children at home, meaning they can no longer work."

Ms Davis-Kimble said families were paying "thousands of pounds each year for tutors and resources" which was "forcing families into financial ruin".

She said: "The impact on whole families and their mental health is horrific."

Liberal Democrat councillor Alistair Dewhirst said there had been "radio silence" regarding the results of the latest Ofsted inspection carried out in the first week of October.

An Ofsted inspection carried out in April 2013 found the council was "inadequate for how effective child protection services are".

Dewhirst said: "During that whole time, Ofsted think children in Devon are not safe.

"The real concern is that government will take over running children's services because they don't believe that after 11 years it's getting any better."

Devon County Council said it had not yet seen a draft report following the latest inspection.

Ofsted said it usually aimed to share reports with local authorities 22 working days after inspectors completed fieldwork but said there could be a range of factors which affected the timing of publication.

Devon County Council said educational health and care plans were now costing on average £16,600, an increase of £666 more per plan, due to inflation.

The council added that increased demand for services in Devon was mirrored around the country.

A council spokesman confirmed Stuart Collins was leaving his role as head of children's services to take up a job at Croydon Council.

The council said the changes in the senior management team were "unrelated to the Ofsted inspection" and were "designed to help us deliver our priorities and to continue our journey of improvement".

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