Latest report highlights:

  • Children’s experiences are improving through strengthened leadership, improved oversight and timely decision-making
  • Children benefit from timely and comprehensive assessments that lead to decisive action when they cannot safely remain with their families
  • The quality of matching children with placements has improved contributing to improved placement stability and fewer moves
  • Leaders and staff are driving measurable progress across key areas
  • Children living in supported accommodation receive the right level of help to develop independence and prepare for adult life
  • Children’s health needs are promoted, and emotional well-being is continually considered
  • Social workers and the virtual school are working more collaboratively, and this is supporting children to make academic progress at school.
  • No children live in unregistered children’s homes
  • Workforce stability has significantly improved since the last monitoring visit (April ’25), with a continued reduction in agency staff and the success of the authority’s ‘grow your own’ strategy supporting continuity for children

This third monitoring visit by Ofsted inspectors since the Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services in May 2024 reported that “there has been continued progress in relation to the improvement of services for children in Halton. Children entering care are benefiting from strengthened leadership, improved strategic oversight, and a committed workforce.”

They also recognised “the foundations for service transformation are well established and are beginning to deliver improved outcomes for children.”

The monitoring visit took place at the beginning of November and saw inspectors reviewing progress made in a number areas:

  • The quality of matching, placement, and decision-making for children in care
  • The experiences and progress of disabled children in care
  • Children living in supported accommodation and unregistered provision
  • The impact of leaders on workforce development, performance management, supervision, and quality assurance
  • The local authority’s own evaluation of the quality and impact of performance and practice

Cllr Tom McInerney, Executive Board Member for Children and Young People, said: “I am very aware that it is one of the most difficult times in the life of a child or young person when a decision is being made for them to come into our care.  Therefore, I am pleased that inspectors recognised continued improvement in children’s experiences and the outcomes achieved for them during this challenging process.

“It is particularly encouraging that inspectors saw that children’s voices are increasingly central to processes that affect them, staff help them to understand their care journey and that plans are becoming more personalised to the child or young person including actively striving to keep siblings together and enabling family time where it is in the best interests of the child.”

“I was really pleased to see our ‘grow your own’ strategy recognised as our workforce has stabilised which we know helps to provide consistency and stability for children who most need it.”

“I am proud of the collective effort that has been made in Halton to improve services for local children, young people and families. Working with all of our partners including schools, NHS and Police colleagues, we are ambitious in our improvement journey and absolutely determined to make sure every child in Halton is safe, happy, healthy and succeeding.”

The monitoring visit to Halton children’s services took place at the beginning of November 2025. This was the third monitoring visit (1st – Jan ’25, 2nd April ’25) 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 social workers.