Both Ofsted and the government have sent Brighton & Hove City Council congratulations for the improvements the council has made to its children’s social care services.
Ofsted’s national director of social care, Yvette Stanley, has described the council's recent 'good' judgement as a 'significant achievement'.
In a letter to the council’s executive director of children’s services, Pinaki Ghoshal, she said:
"I am sure that the good inspection outcome reflects the hard work and tenacity, of yourself, your leadership team, managers and frontline staff, as well as the wider council and your safeguarding partners.
“You should all be proud of the positive difference you have made for the children and families of Brighton and Hove.
“Please pass on my congratulations to all the Brighton and Hove colleagues who have contributed to this achievement as well as extending my personal thanks to all the staff, children, foster carers and wider stakeholders who participated in the inspection process.
“Please also accept my very best wishes for the next phases of your continuous improvement journey.”
In a separate letter to council leader Dan Yates, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families, Nadhim Zahawi MP, described the ‘good’ Ofsted judgement as a ‘very positive outcome’.
He said: “The report also demonstrates the impressively high aspirations the council has for children in care and care leavers, who are entering further and higher education at rates above those of national comparators.”