‘INADEQUATE’ children’s social care in Sandwell have been slammed by Ofsted, with inspectors saying some services have got even worse.

A report published today (Monday, January 29) said there are “widespread and serious failures” in Sandwell Council’s services for children and families in need of help and protection, children looked after and those requiring permanence through adoption.

Inspectors said most of the recommendations made by Ofsted in 2015 – when the services were put into special measures – have not been fully met, while some services have even “declined in effectiveness”.

It was also said that the pace of change to address service deficits has been “too slow”, with the speed of services improving only coming in recent months with the appointment of a new senior management team.

The council has also been criticised for ‘lacking rigour’ in response to children going missing or supporting those at risk of sexual exploitation, while the quality of assessments, plans and management oversight across all services has been described as poor.

Click here to read the full report.

The report follows an announcement in 2016 by the Government to introduce an independent trust to run children's services in the borough which is set to go live in April.

Councillor Simon Hackett, cabinet member for the Labour led-council’s children’s services, said he was “disappointed” by the inspection outcome, but said the foundations were in place for it to support vulnerable children and families.

He said: “First let me say how disappointed we are in the outcome of this re-inspection however we make no excuses – the service still isn't where it needs to be.

“While it's clear that there is much more work to do, Ofsted also recognised the beginning of change in the service that will make sure Sandwell Children's Trust has the foundations in place to succeed.

“The trust is the future of children's services in Sandwell. It will give us a fresh start and the opportunity to achieve real change. It cannot succeed without the council's full support which I will make sure it receives.”

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris has hit out at the council following the publication of the report. The Tory MP said: “Yet again the leadership of Sandwell has completely failed to protect our most vulnerable children and families.

“Just yesterday the leader of the council appeared on television to say that all is well in Sandwell, and that external reports found the council to be run properly.

“Not even a day later an Ofsted report rates the leadership, management and governance as inadequate – this has exposed the leader as being out of touch with reality and living in a fantasy land.

“While senior councillors are too busy fighting each other over allegations of corruption and bullying, they are taking their eye off one of the most important services they should be providing.

“This goes far and beyond politics, this is about the protection and care of our most vulnerable. The situation in Sandwell couldn’t be more serious.”

Mr Morris has also reiterated his call for council leader Cllr Steve Eling to resign following the Ofsted report and after allegations of corruption and wrongdoing in the authority he made in Parliament on Thursday.

Cllr Eling responded to Mr Morris' remarks as 'disgraceful' and branded the MP a coward to the News and on BBC's Sunday Politics show yesterday, adding he had no intention of quitting his role.

Former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was appointed as independent chairman of Sandwell Children's Trust in July last year. She will be joined by new chief executive Frances Craven in February.

The ex-Redditch MP said: “We are under no illusions about the size of the challenge ahead of us as we move towards launching the Sandwell Children’s Trust. It remains an exciting and real opportunity to improve the lives of the most vulnerable children and families in Sandwell.

“We are putting a strong and experienced management team in place that I am confident will find new ways to improve and innovate and make the trust a great place to work.

“We have a strong and productive working partnership with Sandwell Council and with the Department for Education and are making good progress in establishing Sandwell Children's Trust.

“However the hard work is just beginning as we launch the trust this spring and focus on ensuring that it can make a real difference for vulnerable children and families in Sandwell.”