Merton Council welcomes the latest Ofsted report, which praises the council and its partners’ work in ensuring children and young people in the borough are properly safeguarded. The report, which ranked the council as “good” in every category marked, also rated highly Merton’s services for looked-after children.

Ofsted describes Merton’s partnership working with other agencies and the “overall effectiveness of safeguarding services” as ‘good’, and judged partnership working with the voluntary sector to be ‘outstanding’.

The council and its partners are described as having services led by managers who are experienced and have “drive and determination”. Ofsted also states that the Children’s Trust partnership is well supported by key agencies and by the voluntary and community sector.

Ofsted also praised Merton’s overall effectiveness of services for looked after children as good, and noted that the council and its partners are “achieving and sustaining improvement in outcomes” for looked-after children and young people.

Ofsted reported favourably on the council’s “consistent record of improvement” and its “clear vision for improving outcomes, supported by effective plans”.

Merton Council cabinet member for children’s services, Councillor Maxi Martin, said: ‘We are glad to see the hard work of all our talented staff is appreciated in Ofsted’s glowing report, and that our dedication in creating good partnership working, and helping our young people in care to successfully grow into independent adults is paying off.

“All of Merton can feel proud of this report, as we continue our work to create opportunities and brighter futures for all our young people.”

Notes to editors:

For more information on Merton’s work with children who are looked after, please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/833f7f9

The Children’s Trust is a partnership including all the providers and commissioners of services for children, young people and families in Merton. For more information, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/7opbrjb

For more information on Ofsted, please visit: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk

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Press Contact:
Nina Romain
Communications Officer
London Borough of Merton
020 8545 4654