by political editor Paul Francis

Social services and health chiefs have publicly apologised after a damning report into the care of vulnerable children in Kent.

A report by Ofsted inspectors said services for the county’s most vulnerable children were inadequate in virtually every area and found that in half of the cases examined, there were "significant concerns" about the care they were receiving and that in the worst of those, children were left unprotected and at risk of significant harm.

Some shortcomings uncovered were so serious, immediate action was needed to protect children at risk.

The report also said that the capacity for improvement by KCC and its partners was also inadequate.

In a joint statement responding to the report, KCC, the Kent Children’s Trust and Kent’s NHS trusts, said:

"We fully accept the findings of the report. Where we have fallen short we offer our sincere apologies. All agencies are completely focused on putting right the shortcomings and weaknesses that have been identified. There is no greater priority for us all than the protection of vulnerable children, young people and their families."

The care of vulnerable children in the county has come under increasing pressure in the last year, with a significant increase in referrals and an on-going shortage of social workers creating pressure on all councils. In just one week recently, Thanet saw 180 new referrals.

In its report, Ofsted has ordered an immediate review of the current caseload to ensure all 1,362 children at risk are getting the support they need.

It criticised the Kent Safeguarding Children Board, saying it had not done enough to offer effective leadership.

In one damninng passage,the report states there is little evidence that despite evidence of signficant weaknesses and pressures, there was little evidence of sustainable change in practice.

"During the course of this inspection, 22 of the current cases selected for scrutiny raised serious concerns about practice and management. In a significant proportion of these cases children were judged to be vulnerable with their safeguarding needs either unrecognised or not responded to. In the worst cases, children and young people were unprotected from the likelihood of significant harm, a finding which necessitated immediate action to ensure their safety."

KCC leader Paul Carter said: "We take the Ofsted judgement extremely seriously. Let us be under no illusions that looking after vulnerable children is the most complex and challenging task. Our social workers are dedicated people who work very hard. But this is a service which is rooted in making judgements about the lives of families. So this work entails some of the most difficult and demanding judgements that have to be made in public service."

He added: "The Ofsted report is critical of public agency partners who work across the field of safeguarding. We now start the recovery plan to restore the level of services to good or outstanding. My energies and those of my Cabinet will be absolutely focused on supporting and challenging everybody involved to put right any shortcomings and weaknesses that have been identified by the Ofsted inspection.

"KCC will implement every recommendation within the timescales set and will welcome a follow-up inspection by Ofsted in 12 months' time, by which time substantial improvements will have been made."

Rosalind Turner, KCC managing director for childrens services, said:

"KCC and its partners fully recognise the pressures on the service, and regret very much that some vulnerable children and families are not receiving the quality and timely response they deserve. The first priority for us all is to safeguard all our children and young people.

"There are examples of good practice in the report but we need to confront all aspects of practice which are deemed less than adequate."