Bromley’s children’s services and safeguarding have been labelled “inadequate” in all areas by Ofsted inspectors, who said the service had “widespread and serious” failures that leave children vulnerable.

The service is responsible for children’s safeguarding, looked after children, care leavers and children requiring adoption.

However the damning report says there has been a “corporate failure by the local authority that leaves too many children in neglectful and abusive situations for too long”.

The report is divided into three sections; children who need help and protection, children looked after and achieving permanence, and leadership, management and governance.

Bromley council received an inadequate score for each section, which is the lowest rating.

Inspectors wrote: “The response to children missing or at risk of child sexual exploitation is underdeveloped, inconsistent and uncoordinated.

“Delays in police notifications mean that it is not clear when children first go missing and when they return.

“Homeless 16- and 17-year-olds are sometimes placed in bed and breakfast accommodation, which is unacceptable practice.”

Later on in the report inspectors say: “There is an insufficient range of safe, suitable housing available to vulnerable care leavers.

“They are placed in bed and breakfast accommodation for extended periods of time.

“The local authority does not know the risks posed to young people by other residents, as these are not assessed.”

Inspectors were also critical of adoption services, saying that it was not considered soon enough for all children who are unable to return to their birth parents, meaning “too few children are adopted and, for those who are, the process takes too long.”

However they praised parts of the council’s foster care provision, with children staying in placements longer than comparator authorities, and only 8 per cent of children having moved placement more than three times in the year.

They wrote: “The quality of foster care is good, and the work of the Living in Care Council is a considerable strength.”

They also recognised that “good arrangements are in place to maintain and improve the health of children and young people looked after.”

They added: “Foster carers spoken to were positive about their supervising social worker.

“However, many report feeling undervalued by the local authority.”

The report noted that proposals to change allowances for foster carers are having a negative effect on the council’s ability to retain foster carers.

They said there has been “significant deterioration” in services since 2012.

The report was critical of service leaders saying “the lead member, the chief executive and the interim director of children’s services do not have a clear understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of children’s services”.

According to Ofsted statistics 71, 500 children and young people under the age of 18 live in Bromley, making up 24 per cent of the total population.

Approximately 15.5 per cent of children in the local authority are living in poverty.

On March 1 2016, the council was looking after 281 children, an increase from 265 on March 31 2015.

The inspection took place between April 11 and May 5 2016.

Bromley Council response

A spokeswoman for Bromley Council said it has acted swiftly to put in place a member-led improvement board including key partners and an officer service improvement team, both with independent external support, to address shortcomings identified by Ofsted in its inspection of Children’s Services. 

Council Leader Cllr Stephen Carr said: “We are disappointed by the findings from the recent Ofsted inspection of our Children’s Services.

"The new single inspection framework has undoubtedly raised the bar at a time of greater demand for services.

"I want to reassure residents that we are determined to put this right and will be working closely with Ofsted and the Department for Education (DfE) in our action planning to improve services.”

Cllr Carr also welcomed the appointment of the DfE appointed Commissioner, Frankie Sulke CBE, who will assess Bromley’s Children’s Services from DfE’s perspective in addition to Ofsted.

Cllr Carr added: “I am confident we have the appetite and wherewithal as well as external support to closely examine our services and turn this situation around.

"We must have services for children that are fit for purpose and any shortfall we acknowledge is unacceptable.”

Frankie Sulke said: “I am looking forward to working with colleagues in Bromley over the next three months both to support their immediate improvement and also to assess the best way to ensure children get the best possible services in the future. 

"I will be making my recommendations to the Secretary of State by the end of September.”