Proposals are being explored to end the strategic partnership for children’s services between Hampshire County Council and the Isle of Wight Council, which could see control of social care, child protection, school admissions and SEN support brought back to the Island.
The 2 local authorities entered a strategic partnership for children’s services in 2013 following Ofsted judging the Isle of Wight children’s services to be inadequate and with a failing schools’ system, but now Hampshire County Council want to focus more closely on the needs of Hampshire children.
It’s claimed that they have given no notice to the Isle of Wight Council of the dramatic decision.
Over the past decade, Hampshire County Council’s children’s services have run Isle of Wight children’s services on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, delivering functions such as social care, child protection and safeguarding services, school place planning, school admissions and support for children with special education needs.
The partnership between Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council was initiated by the Department for Education at what was a time of significant challenge for the Island’s educational provision, and its social care services for vulnerable children. However, the work between the 2 local authorities has set firm foundations for ongoing improvement and strong performance with children’s services now in a secure position.
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson has today (Friday) said:
“We have benefitted from a long and supportive partnership with Hampshire County Council. Together we worked purposefully to improve services for children and to create a sustainable service.
“Our success is largely due to the dedication and support of all those who work with our children and young people both staff, councillors and those in our communities — and I thank them wholeheartedly for their support.
Article continues below this advertisement “The partnership has evolved over the years to one where the Isle of Wight can now look to the future with renewed resilience, strength and good support for local children and families. We will continue to work closely with colleagues across the water over the next few weeks and months in considering the proposals.”
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Rob Humby adds:
“We are exceptionally proud of all that has been achieved during the partnership with the Isle of Wight and wish to thank all colleagues, both on the Island and in Hampshire, for the skill and dedication they have shown throughout to the children and young people they have worked so hard to support.
“With the successes achieved to date, coupled with growing demand and financial pressure for children’s services in Hampshire and nationally, now feels like the right time for us to consider stepping away from the partnership, which would not only allow the Isle of Wight to continue taking forward its children’s services without the need for Hampshire’s input, but also enable the county council to focus even more closely on the needs of Hampshire children, moving forward.”
Suzie Ellis, Leader of the Conservatives on the Isle of Wight, has commented on the news by saying:
“Firstly, I would like to note the progress that has been made and acknowledge the efforts of all Hampshire and Isle of Wight Children’s Services staff for what they have done over many years to secure the positive results that we have seen on the Island – including our ‘good’ Ofsted judgement.
“The Conservative Group expect to play a constructive role in helping to shape the future of the service. It’s a key issue; providing our young people with the best start in life is probably the most important role of the council – and it is vital decisions made in the coming months and years are carefully considered and fully discussed. This includes being prepared to take difficult decisions, including in relation to schools, when needed.
“It will be interesting to hear more about the reasons for Hampshire’s decision to see if there are lessons to be learned, and I will be speaking to Rob Humby (HCC Leader) to understand more.
“At the same time, this may be an opportunity to take a wider look at the way we on the Island provide our services and to examine the benefits of running these ourselves as an IW authority against those of doing so in partnership with a mainland authority.”
Brace yourselves for the next council tax bills as they will naturally have to set up a whole department and staff it with the usual overpaid beurocrats
These special needs children need only the most basic, HOME education, as will in most cases be cared for by the state (us) FOREVER more.
So as long as they can sign a mark to claim everything free likely all most will need to know.
The parents of such are now paid a huge amount just for burdening society with costly additional children, and although NO fault of their own in most cases (except if consuming alcohol and drugs, or having a scan showing a deformed clump of cells) and get disability cars free rent .c tax etc.
So I suggest cut backs need to be made to give a basic life to those who will only EVER be a drain on society and pay nothing in, only take. Times are hard now for all, we need to cut back everywhere
The people who have provided comments as to the brilliance of the partnership, quite obviously, have not had anything to do with it, know nothing about it or are involved in it. Judging from first hand experience, the partnership actively does the least it can to help children, actively ignoring official documentation, medical issues, welfare and wellbeing, lie and break the law. The ultimate insult is when Senior Management of SEND and Legal Services tried to play legal semmantics with my daughter’s future at an EHCP Tribunal – they should be ashamed of themselves but probably have been high fiving at what a great job they have done. Spineless cretins.