Ofsted’s latest monitoring inspection to Halton children’s services has concluded that the local authority has made strong progress in strengthening its offer to care leavers. The findings of the inspector are summarised in a report, which is available on the Ofsted website (2 June).
In their report following the monitoring visit in April, Inspectors noted that external reviews have helped leaders target improvement effectively, supported by a more stable, largely permanent workforce and visible, engaged senior leaders.
Leaders have also involved young people in the improvement and development of support for care leavers, co-producing many aspects which has resulted in a more coordinated service. A new care leavers app has been launched and outreach workers and a dedicated ’21 year plus worker’ have been employed following direct input from young people, which are starting to improve outcomes.
Social workers and Personal Advisors (PA) know young people well, understand their histories which is particularly important for those with complex needs. Young people are supported to ensure their health needs are prioritised and met, given practical and emotional support to develop the skills they need to live independently, and most young people report positive relationships with their PAs and feel supported and heard.
The report noted that most care leavers live in safe, stable and suitable homes, including, supported accommodation and tenancies and placements with former foster carers. Where young people are not engaging with the service, PAs and managers are tenacious in their attempts to maintain contact.
Considering the wider family, the report recognised that care leaver parents receive a supportive service and PAs build strong relationships and advocate effectively for young people within multi-agency planning for their children.
Inspectors saw that separated migrant care leavers benefit from close, trusting relationships with PAs. They are supported to build stability, live near their communities and access education, language courses, apprenticeships and employment. Their ambitions are clearly reflected in pathway plans, visits and supervision.
Inspectors noted that the quality assurance processes, including audits and external reviews, are effective and demonstrate a strong commitment to reflection. This is particularly important to ensure there is consistent social care practice across the service whilst understanding that each individual care leaver will have their own needs, challenges and wishes.
Leaders recognise areas where further progress is needed and have “firm plans” to ensure there is consistent practice across the service in particular around pathway planning, education, employment and training outcomes, and the quality of supervision and management oversight.
Councillor Tom McInerney, Executive Member for Children’s Education and Social Care said, “I am very pleased to see that inspectors recognised the continued improvement in our children’s services backed by Council investment and led by a strong senior leadership team. I am encouraged that the report noted that our workforce has stabilised and that staff are working hard to make the necessary changes and are achieving better outcomes for our local children and families. I thank all of our staff for their dedication and commitment to our Halton community.
We accept that there is still more to do and we are already well on with those plans. This report encourages us that we are definitely heading in the right direction and we are right to have confidence and be ambitious in our improvement journey.
Finally, I would like to recognise the most amazing young people that I have the privilege to work alongside. Our care leavers are some of the best, kindest, inspirational and talented young people I know. Their energy, creativity and ideas are incredibly valuable in helping to ensure that our services really do what they need to in a way that works for the young people they are designed to serve. I am very proud of them all.”
Notes:
Ofsted’s monitoring visit to Halton’s Children’s Services – Care Leavers took place on 29 and 30 April 2026.
This was the fourth monitoring visit since the local authority was judged inadequate in May 2024.
As part of their assessment, a range of evidence was considered, including electronic records, performance management information, case file audits and other information provided by senior managers. In addition, inspectors spoke to care leavers, personal advisers (PAs) and social workers.
Care Leavers Service – when young people living in the care of the authority turn 18, they can access the specialist care leavers service until they are 25 to help them successfully transition to adulthood and gain independence – such as help with finding education and employment opportunities, finding a safe and secure home, managing their money, looking after their health and navigating the various challenges and opportunities in life.