Inspection report finds Surrey’s family support and early help services are making a ‘positive difference’

A report published today finds that Surrey’s family support and early help services are making a positive difference to children and families in Surrey who need help.

The inspection report, from Ofsted, Care Quality Commission and His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) stated that the multi-agency service provision delivers a broad range of well-co-ordinated family support and early help services. 

The report authors carried out a Joint Targeted Area Inspection (JTAI) into Surrey’s multi-agency response for children and families that need help, from 6th to 10^th March 2023. 

Inspectors who looked primarily at targeted early help, noted that referrals about children made to the integrated front door in Surrey (C-SPA) receive “timely and proportionate decision-making” to ensure the welfare of children.  Inspectors also said that senior leaders at SCC, Surrey police and health partners are “investing in a clear shared vision of early help” that is strengthening partnership working. Although Surrey is one of the largest counties in the country, inspectors identified that a strength of close partnership working was: “recognition that not one size fits all and the need to develop the local help offer consistent with local need”.  

The report has also identified some areas that SCC and partners need to focus on including: increasing the role of Surrey Safeguarding Children’s Partnership when it comes to oversight of early help; consistency of sharing referral outcomes; information sharing and decision-making between partners and clear articulation of rationales for stepping down statutory intervention.

Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council, said: “I welcome the inspectors’ findings and would like to thank staff and partners that were involved in the inspection.  Especially those that work at the C-SPA, Surrey’s integrated front door for children and families that need help or support. 

“I’m glad the strength of partnership working has been recognised and I’d like to thank senior leaders at all our partner agencies for their strong shared vision.

“We are committed to fully take on board the recommendations in the report and to work with our partners to further improve our multi-agency early help services for children, young people and their families so that all children can thrive and look forward to a bright future here in Surrey.”

The full report can be accessed here.