High expectations, high support and high challenge

This report examines in some depth how senior managers in 14 local authorities successfully provided those structures and supports and implemented a range of strategies to better support their front-line staff working in child protection. Inspectors met with front-line social workers and managers as well as senior managers, and explored the situations of 38 children and young people who were subject to child protection plans. The report highlights the features of being well supported that were most important to front-line staff and identifies the impact of being well supported, the difference it made to their confidence and competence, and ultimately to improving outcomes for children and families.