Swindon Borough Council has made progress in supporting young people leaving care, but an Ofsted monitoring visit has identified several areas where more work is needed, including housing, mental health provision and the consistency of support plans.
The inspection, which was requested by the Council itself, looked at the services available to care-experienced young people as they move from the care system into independent adult life.
While inspectors recognised improvements in the way young people are supported and involved in decisions, the findings also highlight challenges that could affect some of Swindon’s most vulnerable young adults.
Young people helping to shape services
One of the positive findings was the growing involvement of care-experienced young people in shaping the services they receive.
Inspectors found that young people are being given opportunities to share their experiences and influence how support is delivered.
The relationships between care leavers and their Pathway Advisers were also identified as a strength.
These advisers play an important role in helping young people navigate the transition into adulthood, providing guidance on matters such as housing, education, employment and everyday life.
Ofsted also recognised the Council’s work to extend support for care leavers up to the age of 25, alongside efforts to help young people access education, training and employment opportunities.
Housing and mental health support remain concerns
Despite the progress, inspectors identified several areas requiring further attention.
Among the issues raised was the need to improve pathway planning, ensuring young people receive consistently good support that reflects their individual circumstances and future needs.
Access to suitable accommodation was another concern, with the report identifying the importance of ensuring appropriate housing is available when young people need it.
Inspectors also highlighted the need for stronger support for some care leavers experiencing complex mental health difficulties.
Improvements were recommended in the way different agencies work together to support vulnerable young people, particularly those whose circumstances require help from several services.
For young people leaving care, the transition to independent living can bring significant challenges. Without reliable housing, appropriate mental health support and a clear plan for the future, that transition can become considerably more difficult.
Swindon to receive additional support through national improvement programme
Swindon Borough Council says work is already underway to address the findings.
As part of its wider improvement programme, the authority will receive additional support through the Department for Education’s Children’s Improvement Teams programme.
The scheme brings councils together with experienced children’s services organisations to share knowledge, improve practice and strengthen services.
Swindon has been partnered with Achieving for Children, which delivers children’s services across Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames and Windsor and Maidenhead.
Over the next year, the partnership will concentrate on improving leadership, strengthening the quality and consistency of services and developing better ways to monitor performance.
Another priority will be helping more children remain connected to their families and communities, including supporting them to live in suitable accommodation closer to their existing networks wherever possible.
Council welcomes scrutiny and promises further action
Councillor Kate Tomlinson, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said the authority had specifically requested the Ofsted visit to obtain an independent assessment of its progress.
“We requested this visit because we wanted independent scrutiny and a clear assessment of where we are and where we need to improve further,” she said.
She welcomed the recognition given to staff and the greater involvement of care-experienced young people in shaping services.
However, she acknowledged that more needs to be done, particularly around housing, mental health and pathway planning.
“Our focus remains on delivering the best possible outcomes for children and young people,” she added.
“This visit has provided valuable challenge as well as assurance on the progress being made and we will continue to act on the findings to strengthen support for care-experienced young people.”
What happens next?
The Council says it will continue working with partner organisations and care-experienced young people to address the concerns raised by inspectors.
The coming year will be important in determining whether the improvements already recognised by Ofsted can be maintained and extended to those areas where support remains inconsistent.
For the young people relying on these services, the priority will be ensuring that improvements translate into practical help, whether that means finding a suitable home, accessing mental health services or having someone available to guide them through the challenges of adult life.
The full monitoring letter can be found through Ofsted’s official reports website
