Children’s services are improving in Devon after years of problems, according to a commissioner appointed by the government.
The Department for Education appointed Nigel Richardson as Devon’s Children’s Services Commissioner following an Ofsted report in May 2025 that judged children’s services in Devon County Council to be inadequate.
The commissioner said the areas crucial to the success of the service were “all heading in a positive direction” and praised the council’s leader and chief executive for their focus on children.
The cabinet member for children’s services welcomed the report and said councillors and officers were continuing to make improvements “with urgency and pace”.
Children’s services are responsible for areas including the protection of vulnerable children, fostering, adoption and support for care leavers.
In his report, Mr Richardson said: “The fact that Devon has struggled for many years to consistently provide good quality services to the children and families of Devon is well documented – the most vulnerable in particular have had a very poor service for too long.”
He said all the foundations of good children’s services were now in place and what was now required was “recognition of what has been achieved and how Devon’s potential can be harnessed”.
He said: “The priority is to draw a line, look forward positively and continue to help Devon as it works hard to create the conditions for success that are, in my opinion, now clearly emerging strongly.”
Mr Richardson said the Department for Education “can confidently leave the operational service control with the council”.
He also warned of the potential impact of breaking up children’s services in the local government reorganisation process where various options for carving up Devon into new local authorities are being considered.
Mr Richardson said: “Anything that breaks that model would risk stopping the existing work in its tracks with an even bigger risk that things would quickly slip backwards.”
Devon County Council pointed to strong leadership, improved recruitment and better partnerships as areas key to improvement of the service.
The council has also committed to spending £156m over 10 years on more local homes for children in care.
Richard Jefferies, lead member for children’s services, said: “While the commissioner notes that much remains to be done, there is also a lot to be encouraged by in this important report.
“His view that the council requires support rather than further scrutiny to achieve its ambitions for children and young people is a welcome and constructive approach.”
