HEREFORDSHIRE’S children’s services “has improved at pace” since its previous inspection, according to a newly published Ofsted report.

Government-appointed inspector Alison Smale said of a visit by her and colleagues last month to the previously troubled department: “The quality of practice for children in care in Herefordshire has improved at pace since the last monitoring visit in early 2024, where little progress was found.”

She concluded that following the appointment of interim director Tina Russell last year, “leaders and senior managers have worked with fresh momentum and conviction to create the conditions for social work to flourish”.

“Consistently stronger child-focused practice is improving the experience and outcomes for children in care in Herefordshire,” she said.

But she cautioned that “reliable evaluation of practice” through regular audits, as well as sorting out schooling for older children in the county separated from their families and seeking asylum, “remain areas for improvement”.

Meanwhile “workforce stability” has improved thanks to a “refreshed and enhanced recruitment and retention strategy”, with “a much higher proportion of permanent social workers “and lower staff turnover.

Welcoming the report, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people Councillor Ivan Powell said: “We have worked together to create the conditions for social work to flourish and this is having a positive impact on our care-experienced children.”

A new plan for the department including plans to work more with local community partners, passed by the council’s cabinet last week “will guide us on the next steps of our improvement programme”, he added.

Children’s commissioner Deborah McMillan, who remains attached to the department following its earlier inadequate rating, said: “The focus on supporting families and children by providing the right help at the right time, and building meaningful, trusting relationships, is having a positive impact.”