Does that mean I’m inadequate?

What happens to the staff in Local Authorities who are graded Inadequate?

Can they still recognise that they are doing a good job, with what they know and the resources they are given? Are their successes celebrated? Or are they left wondering if they themselves are inadequate?

I spoke with a former colleague about the feeling of going through an inspection where the grading was inadequate and they spoke of a deep sense of shame. Let’s just remind ourselves that shame means we are bad, it means that there is something fundamentally wrong with us, it speaks to the core of who we are. To hear someone feel shame because of an inspection was heartbreaking. But I’m sure many people feel this way.

We need to start talking about the impact on social care.

We’ve heard a lot about the impact of Ofsted inspections on schools, how it can negatively impact on the wellbeing and mental health of the staff. We need to start talking about the impact on social care. What messages do staff receive when they’re told they’re inadequate or even when they’re told they require improvement? It’s hard to remember in those moments that it’s a snapshot in time, it’s a small percentage of the vast amount of work undertaken and how those few weeks go could have a lasting ripple effect for the staff and therefore the families for much longer than the inspection. I’ve had experiences of inspectors who offer kindness and respect, but I’ve also had experiences of those who wield their power like a sledgehammer ready to crack a nut.

When organisations or Local Authorities are on an improvement journey, is enough consideration given to the care of their staff? The ones who show up day in and day out, working hard to make the improvements on the big Ofsted action plan?

People often come into social care with their own story….maybe they have their own experience of social care as a child, or maybe they have a different experience that makes them passionate about supporting others. But the bottom line is, those same staff who are being judged to be inadequate are the ones who, despite not having enough time, money or resources, despite being verbally abused at times by the people they are trying to support, despite feeling exhausted and like they’re running on fumes, despite missing their own child’s bedtime in order to support another child on their caseload, they keep showing up. That should be celebrated.

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