Care leaver's service in Bradford 'has improved'
Inspectors visited the service in early July, and have just published their findings.
Their report says that while care leavers had 'lost faith' in the service in recent years, there have been recent major improvements.
Care leavers are young adults aged 18 to 25 who are about to leave the care system, or have recently left care.
Bradford Council still has a responsibility for care leavers, and this includes helping them find a place to live, supporting them with developing skill or moving into further education and helping with their budgeting.
The Ofsted visit is the latest monitoring inspection to be carried out since Bradford's Children's Services was judged Inadequate in both 2018 and 2022.
The service has since been taken over by an arm's length trust.
The findings of the report were sent by letter to Marium Haque, Bradford Council's outgoing head of Children's Services.
The letter says: 'Since the last inspection strong political and corporate support, together with significant additional investment in the care leaving service, is driving service improvements for vulnerable care leavers in Bradford.
'The trust and the council are working effectively together with a shared commitment to enabling their care leavers to thrive.
'There is a palpable determination by senior leaders to improve care leavers' experiences and opportunities, and ensure they have the emotional and practical support to transition successfully to adulthood and beyond.
'The council's local offer has been improved. Vulnerable care leavers are now benefiting from support from a stable and permanent team of personal advisers providing them with a trusted adult, helping them navigate adult life and face the myriad of challenges this brings.
'Care leavers spoken with during the visit reflected that they previously had numerous changes of workers, which meant that some care leavers lost faith in the service. Positively, care leavers told inspectors that more recent practice has improved, and they are now benefiting from increasingly stable relationships with their workers. They reflected that their workers talk about them with affection and help them to make progress and achieve their ambitions.
'Some plans are not routinely updated when care leavers' situations change, including changes in accommodation, meaning that their current needs may not always be fully assessed or understood.
'Partnership working has been strengthened, in particular relationships with housing. This is ensuring that care leavers have priority status for Bradford homes. Most care leavers live in suitable accommodation that meets their needs.
'PAs in the leaving care service spoke very positively about working in Bradford. They reflected on the historical challenges and articulated how they now feel happy, settled and better supported with their work.'
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