Salford’s children’s services praised for compassion, stability and impact in latest Ofsted visit

A focused Ofsted visit has praised Salford City Council’s children’s services for its strong leadership, inclusive culture and dedicated workforce, highlighting continued progress since its last full inspection in 2023.

Social workers in Salford are delivering a “positive impact on improving the lives of children” through timely support and a culture rooted in compassion and professionalism, according to a focused visit by Ofsted.

Inspectors reviewed Salford’s response to children in need, those subject to child protection plans, and pre-proceedings under the Public Law Outline. The visit was conducted as part of the ILACS (Inspection of Local Authority Children’s Services) framework.

The report praised the council for ensuring children’s needs are “met at the right time and at the right level”, underpinned by a stable workforce, strong leadership and effective early help services. The findings build on the previous ‘Good’ Ofsted rating awarded in 2024, where several areas received ‘Outstanding’ recognition.

Key strengths highlighted include:

- A strong focus on staff recruitment and retention, reducing reliance on agency workers
- Clear leadership oversight of child protection and pre-proceedings work
- High-quality multi-agency collaboration, especially around identifying and responding to neglect
- A quality assurance framework that enables leaders to accurately assess and improve practice
- Prompt and proactive responses to children’s needs

Inspectors found social workers in Salford to be supported, well-trained, and motivated, with one noting the “inclusive and collaborative culture” and “manageable caseloads” as factors contributing to their commitment to the city.

Councillor Jim Cammell, Lead Member for Children’s and Young People’s Services, welcomed the findings: “This is a well-deserved achievement for Salford and I’m really proud of our team. Social workers provide a lifeline to children and young people and often don’t get the recognition they deserve. Their work safeguards children, supports families and improves outcomes.”

The council has significantly reduced its use of agency staff, which Ofsted said has helped children receive consistent support from familiar professionals. Salford now has one of the lowest agency rates in the country.

The visit confirms that the service continues to improve, with a clear focus on keeping children safe, supporting families and helping young people thrive across the city.