THIS month saw Ofsted publish a scathing report on BCP Council's children's services.

In the first full inspection since the unitary authority was formed in 2019, inspectors found there were still "serious and widespread" weaknesses which were leaving vulnerable children at risk of harm.

The watchdog rated BCP Council as inadequate following the inspection of the local authority children's services work in December last year.

A summary from lead inspector Steve Lowe said: "There remain too many areas where progress has been neither sufficiently swift nor decisive.

"The application of quality assurance processes does not give senior leaders a reliable or accurate picture of the quality of social work practice. The quality of this practice is too variable, with much being poor.

"Thresholds for intervention are not applied consistently, and the oversight of managers is too variable in quality.

"Multiple changes of social workers and managers in some teams also contribute greatly to the lack of focus and urgency for many children.

"There are still serious and widespread weaknesses in the quality of children’s services that leave vulnerable children at risk of harm.

"Specialist services aside, the core business of reducing the risks to children in need of help and protection is yet to have a consistent and effective impact."

While the report was critical, it was just the latest damning judgement of local authority services in relation to looking after children.

The below timeline explores what has taken place in recent years.