Durham County Council chosen to lead national children social care improvement programme

Durham County Council’s children’s services being rated as Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2025.

County Durham has been chosen to lead the way in helping other local authorities deliver excellence in children’s social care.

Durham County Council has been selected for the government’s Children's Social Care Improvement Teams (CIT) programme.

Recognised as an authority that delivers outstanding children’s social care, the council will now take part in a programme to provide support and advice to lower-performing local authorities across the UK.

Launched by the Department for Education, the CIT programme draws on the principle that local authorities are best placed to support one another through shared expertise, proven practice and peer-led improvement.

Cllr Cathy Hunt, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected to lead the way in supporting the development of children’s social care around the country through the CIT programme. In County Durham, we take pride in treating every child as part of the Durham Family, ensuring their individual needs are met, they are listened to, and they are supported with opportunities that allow them to grow and thrive.

“To be selected for this programme is fantastic national recognition of the high quality of our children’s social care services. We are looking forward to supporting colleagues in other local authority areas by sharing our best practices and expertise and, ultimately, improving outcomes for children not just in County Durham but UK-wide.”

As part of the CIT programme, the council will provide intensive support to local authorities that have been judged as inadequate by Ofsted and require intervention or targeted improvement support.

The programme will have a strong focus on practical support, as well as advice and guidance.

As a CIT, the council will help other authorities address the root causes of underperformance, strengthen leadership and governance, improve practice quality, and secure sustainable improvement for children and families.

The council is one of six authorities to have been chosen as part of the second wave of the CIT programme, following a rigorous interview and selection process.