Ofsted Praises Hackney's Care Leaver Support

Hackney's services for young people transitioning out of local authority care have been significantly enhanced, inspectors from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) have found. This marks a considerable turnaround from two years ago, when this aspect was identified as the weakest element of the borough's otherwise well-regarded children's services.

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Following a focused visit on 23 and 24 June, inspectors Monique Lindsay and Mark Scanlon reported that care leavers in Hackney now experience "warm and trusting" connections with practitioners who are familiar with their needs and maintain regular contact. Pathway planning is thorough, assisting young people in developing independence while retaining the support of known adults. The borough's dedicated hub for care leavers, Sonder Space, received particular praise. Young individuals using the facility informed inspectors that they felt secure, heard, and valued. Sonder Space, which was in its early stages of operation during the previous inspection in 2024, was developed with input from care-experienced ambassadors employed by the council.

The report also noted effective support for former unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people, who benefit from specialist advisers and dedicated forums. Care leavers who are parents or are in custody were also found to be well-supported. Inspectors reaffirmed their endorsement of Hackney's STAR practice model, which is described as systemic, trauma-informed, and anti-racist, and is integrated into staff's daily work rather than being perceived as an additional burden. Most practitioners indicated that their workloads were manageable.

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Despite the positive findings, inspectors identified two key areas requiring further improvement. Firstly, the consistency of supervision is not always maintained within the council's own set timescales, although inspectors observed no negative impact on the young people. This concern echoes a point raised in 2024, when further work was needed to ensure supervision provided clear direction and advanced plans. Secondly, the provision of health summaries for care leavers needs enhancement. Inspectors found that young people do not consistently receive a record of their health history as they move towards independence, potentially leaving them without crucial information such as childhood immunisations or past diagnoses. This area appears to have regressed since 2024, when Ofsted had described the summaries as helpful.

Additionally, inspectors discovered that a small number of care leavers aged between 18 and 21 had not been assigned a named practitioner, a statutory requirement. Council managers reportedly contacted these individuals to assess their needs once the issue was identified during the visit. Some records pertaining to visits to care leavers were also not completed promptly.

Looking Ahead

While this focused visit does not result in a formal grade change, the findings will be incorporated into a forthcoming, shorter inspection. The council, now under Green administration since May's local elections, inherits a service that Ofsted rates highly, alongside the task of addressing the remaining gaps in provision. The previous administration, led by Labour, had overseen the significant improvement efforts over the past two years.