Herefordshire's Children's Services improvements

A High Court judgment was published on 26 March 2021, which raised significant concerns about Herefordshire's Children's Social Care Services. Following this, on 18 May 2021, the council was issued with a non-statutory improvement notice by the Department for Education (DfE) and appointed Gladys Rhodes White OBE as an Improvement Adviser for a minimum of 12 months, and until such time that the Secretary of State is satisfied that she is no longer required.

A Children's Services Improvement Board was formed, chaired by Gladys Rhodes White to oversee the improvement journey, consisting of representatives from a wide range of agencies who work with children and young people.

On 21 September 2022, Herefordshire Children's Services was rated inadequate following an Ofsted inspection that took place between 18 to 29 July 2022, and the council was given three months to prepare an Improvement Action Plan in response.

Following the publications of the Ofsted report a statutory direction was issued on 21 September 2022, by the Secretary of State to Herefordshire Council and Eleanor Brazil was appointed as Commissioner for Children's Services in Herefordshire.