Local Government Ombudsman and Ofsted agree protocol on information sharing

The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) and Ofsted have agreed a protocol on sharing information that might improve their intelligence on local authorities’ children’s services.

The protocol means that:

• information about complaints handled by the LGO relating to children’s services will be routinely shared with Ofsted “thus helping to inform its inspection processes”;
• following an inspection, Ofsted will advise the LGO of any concerns it has about a local authority’s failure to implement policy and procedural changes as recommended by the Ombudsman following an investigation.

Dr Jane Martin, Local Government Ombudsman, said: “I look forward to working more closely with children’s services regulator, Ofsted. Sharing information in this way will not only benefit both our organisations, but should also help drive improvements in children’s care services across England.”

Eleanor Schooling, Ofsted Director for Social Care, said: “Inspection and accountability help to drive improvements in children’s services. I’ve been greatly encouraged by recent monitoring visits to children’s services formerly judged to be inadequate, where inspectors saw tangible evidence of progress. So I look forward to working more closely with the Local Government Ombudsman to help improve care for some of the most vulnerable children in England.”