Ofsted braced for child protection criticism in report published today

Report expected to recommend Ofsted is stripped of some powers following Baby P tragedy

Ofsted's role in investigating suspicious deaths of young children is likely to come under critical scrutiny today in the aftermath of the Baby P tragedy.

A report commissioned by the Department of Education will propose ways of simplifying child protection inspection procedures following the death of Peter Connelly in Tottenham, north London, in 2007.

The paper by Eileen Munro, a professor of social policy at the London School of Economics, is one of a series of inquiries into the way in which safeguarding of children is conducted.

Ofsted's main function is to carry out reviews of schools to ensure they meet specified academic criteria, but the inspectorate also has the less publicised role of examining the performance of children's social workers.

In an interview with Community Care magazine, Munro said: "In my second report, to be submitted to ministers ... I shall outline some potential areas for reform."

One of the questions she will address, she said, "relates to one of the government's top priorities getting rid of the unnecessary bureaucracy that can obstruct those working with children, young people and families. I would like to hear the widest possible range of views, from those working within the child protection system about the precise forms, processes, protocols, regulations and rules that get in the way."

She said she was also looking at "the environment in which child protection professionals operate, how their performance is monitored and the ways they are held accountable, both publicly and within their organisations."

The 17-month-old toddler died at the hands of his mother, Tracey Connelly, her violent partner, Steven Barker, and his brother Jason Owen. Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries despite receiving 60 visits from social workers, doctors and police ov! er an ei ght-month period.

According to The Times newspaper today, Munro is expected to recommend that Ofsted should be stripped of the powers to evaluate serious case reviews into such situations because its approach is too bureaucratic.

It reports that the Munro's study will find that Ofsted's inquiries often focus on whether "rules and procedures have been met but not whether this has helped children".


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