A FULL inspection of BCP Council’s troubled children’s services department will be carried out next year, it has been confirmed.

Ofsted will carry out its first thorough review of the council’s work after its inspectors found “serious and widespread weaknesses” during a “focused” visit in October.

It was confirmed by the council’s director of children’s services, Elaine Redding, during Wednesday’s cabinet meeting who said the failings in the department were “not unsurmountable”.

A team of Ofsted inspectors made a day-long visit to the council in October after concerns were raised by the Department for Education about the quality of its work.

Neil Penswick, who was among them, said the vulnerable children were being left “at risk of harm”, in his letter to the council sent last month.

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He raised concerns that the “vast majority” of assessments by social workers were “unfit for purpose” and particularly about the quality of management.

A spokesman for the Department for Education said it was now “closely monitoring” the council and that it would “not hesitate” to take action where children are being put at risk.

Alongside the department’s appointment of an improvement supervisor, Anthony Douglas, to monitor work, it has also made North Tyneside Council, itself rated as ‘outstanding’, the council’s mentor.

Speaking at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, Ms Redding said the council had now produced an action plan “to address every single point” raised by Ofsted.

“It was a really difficult and uncomfortable read,” she said. “We would expect it to be given the challenges we face.

“This is not unsurmountable, it’s not systemic. It was a failure of leadership and management which we have taken swift action to address.”

“It’s going to be a marathon, not a sprint, although we will be required to spring at points because we will be having a full Ofsted inspection next year.”

Cabinet member for children, councillor Mike White, said he “fully accepted” Ofsted’s criticisms and thanked the “cross-party support” given by councillors since the letter was published.

Council leader Drew Mellor added that he was “obsessed about getting it right”.