Bradford Children and Families Trust and Bradford Council are ‘driving service improvements for vulnerable care leavers in Bradford’, according to Ofsted’s latest monitoring visit.
The visit, carried out on 1 and 2 July 2025, focused on the quality of support and planning for vulnerable care leavers aged 18-25 years. This is the latest visit from Ofsted since Bradford Children and Families Trust took over the running of children’s services from the Council in April 2023.
In a letter summarising the findings of the visit, Ofsted stated: ‘The Trust and Council are working effectively together with a shared commitment to enabling their care leavers to thrive’.
Inspectors credited service improvements to ‘strong political and corporate support, together with significant additional investment in the care leaving service’.
‘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 report said.
Ofsted recognised that ‘leaders have created much-needed stability in the workforce,’ with care leavers telling inspectors that ‘more recent practice has improved, and they are now benefitting from increasingly stable relationships with their workers’.
The letter also highlighted that this ‘significantly increased’ workforce capacity is enabling Personal Advisors (PAs) to support care leavers more effectively. Inspectors found that PAs are ‘responsive to care leavers’ needs and are highly attuned to their emotional well-being, unique characteristics and situations’.
Ofsted concluded that Personal Advisors in the leaving care service spoke very positively about working in Bradford. They said:
‘Senior leaders within the Trust and Council are modelling behaviour that feeds down to frontline managers and practitioners. This is a significant culture shift in Bradford and is helping to create an environment where workers want to stay are excited for the future.’
Eileen Milner, Chair of Bradford Children and Families Trust, said:
“We welcome the findings of Ofsted’s recent monitoring visit which reported ‘clear evidence of improved senior management oversight and grip of practice in the care leavers service’.
“The Trust is committed to working alongside children, young people and families, so we are pleased that Ofsted recognised that ‘care leavers are now active and very influential participants at the corporate parenting board’.
“On behalf of Bradford Children and Families Trust, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the dedicated staff who are working tirelessly and at pace to improve the lives of children and young people in Bradford.
“Ofsted found that ‘partnership working has been strengthened’. Together, we will continue to work collaboratively and with wider partners to improve care leavers’ experiences and opportunities.”
Cllr Sue Duffy, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for children and families, said:
“It’s good news that Ofsted continues to see improvements in social care services for children and young people in Bradford. The Ofsted inspectors highlight the strong working relationship between the Council and the Trust, and acknowledge the real progress being made to support young people leaving care.
“I was particularly pleased to read that when inspectors spoke to care leavers themselves, they told them that they could feel the service had improved and they said their workers ‘help them make progress and achieve their ambitions’.
“We are grateful to the dedicated staff at the Trust and all our partners who are working hard to improve the lives of children and families across the district. Everyone involved is determined to keep building on this progress and deliver the best possible support for our care leavers and all children and young people in Bradford.”
The Ofsted letter, published following the most recent monitoring visit, can be found at: https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50283586
If you would like to be part of this exciting journey and help to make a real difference in people’s lives, visit: https://recruitment.bradfordcft.org.uk/