INSPECTORS have highlighted how individual staff and professionals make a positive difference to the lives to children in their care in Cumbria.
Despite criticism of other failings, a joint report, by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission, said frontline workers had been described as going “above and beyond” to meet the needs of children with special educational needs and disabilities across the county.
“Most children, young people and families speak in glowing terms about individual professionals who have made a considerable difference to their quality of life.
“There are passionate, skilled and committed front-line workers across the partnership who make a discernible difference to families on a daily basis.
“Children and young people describe the warm, respectful and productive relationships that they enjoy with staff across the partnership," said the report.
When it comers to meeting the needs of children with SEND the report adds: “Children, young people and families speak with great fondness of professionals across education, health and care who have made a positive difference to their lives.
“They often describe frontline workers going ‘above and beyond’ to meet needs.”
Peter Rooney, chief officer of North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group, praised the efforts of frontline staff. “They are doing a fantastic job, sometimes in quite difficult circumstances,” he said. “The report does highlight that that is not always the case for all these children.
“There is a real opportunity to strengthen our practices and create an environment where professionals and practitioners can deliver the service they aspire to deliver all the time.”
Other strengths recognised by inspectors include the needs of children and young people known to the youth offending team being identified and well met.
This, the report said, has led to a big reduction in the number of young people with SEND receiving a custodial sentence.
"The quality of preventative work has also reduced the number of children and young people entering the justice system for the first time."
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