Staffordshire Council improved children's services after a poor rating, but still faces challenges in staffing and record-keeping.

Staffordshire County Council has been recognized by Ofsted for major improvements in its children's services, following a 2023 'requires improvement' rating. The council revamped its 'front door' system to enable faster, more thoughtful responses to referrals, supported by the appointment of director Bernie Brown in 2024 and increased funding, including a £5.5 million boost for 119 new staff. Inspectors praised progress in risk identification and out-of-hours responses but noted ongoing challenges like high workloads, inconsistent record-keeping, and some social workers handling tasks beyond their experience. The council has been directed to address these issues, with leadership emphasizing sustained effort to protect vulnerable children.