Portsmouth City Council’s children’s services have been rated Outstanding in all four areas following an inspection by Ofsted. Inspectors found that children, care-experienced young people and families in Portsmouth benefit from outstanding support, delivered by skilled staff, strong relationships and ambitious leadership.
The report highlights the council’s ‘one-Council’ approach to supporting care-experienced young people, bringing together teams across the Council to focus on what matters most to them. Ofsted recognised the significant progress made through this approach, with care-experienced young people benefiting from safe and suitable housing, education, employment opportunities and practical support as they move into adulthood.
Inspectors praised the strong relationships staff build with children, young people and families. They found services are child-centred, with practitioners who know children well and provide timely, tailored support that helps them make meaningful progress. Ofsted also highlighted the work of personal advisers supporting care-experienced young people, describing “the palpable sense of care, attention to detail about young people’s lives and ambition for them” as “a distinctive, significant strength”. The report also highlights how children and care-experienced young people help shape services and influence decisions that affect their lives.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children and Education, said: “This is a proud moment for Portsmouth. Everything we do starts with improving outcomes for children, young people and families, and Ofsted has recognised the exceptional difference that Portsmouth’s workforce, foster carers, schools and partners make every day, to ensure that every child is safe, valued and able to thrive.
“This outstanding achievement reflects the dedication, professionalism and compassion shown by our staff and partners every day and the outcomes of children, care experiences and families who receive timely, purposeful and bespoke help.
“We’re particularly pleased that Ofsted has recognised the difference our one-Council approach is making for care-experienced young people. By working together across services, we’re helping young people access safe housing, build strong support networks and achieve their ambitions.
“We’d like to thank the children and young people who shared their experiences with inspectors and continue to help shape our services.
“We’d also like to thank our staff, foster carers and partners for their continued commitment to improving the lives of children and young people in Portsmouth, helping every child thrive. This achievement belongs to all of them.
“We are overjoyed with this outcome and remain ambitious and committed to continual improvement.”
Yvette Stanley, Ofsted’s National Director for Regulation and Social Care, said: “This outcome is testament to the hard work and tenacity of the leadership team past and present, managers and frontline staff, the wider council and safeguarding partners.”
The inspection also highlighted the Council’s strong leadership, continued investment in services and positive workforce culture. Ofsted found that staff feel valued and supported, helping to create a stable workforce and strong relationships that give children, young people and families the consistency they need to thrive.
The full report is available on the Ofsted website Portsmouth City Council – Open – Find an Inspection Report – Ofsted.