Stockton Council children's services has strengthened quality of social work, says OfstedThe education regulator praised the authority for its improvements 'gaining traction', but made criticism over its 'inconsistent' approach to neglectChildren's services in Stockton have strengthened the quality of social work, says Ofsted (Image: Pixabay)Education regulator Ofsted has said Stockton Council's children's services have strengthened the quality of their social work. Lead inspector Sophie Wales wrote: "The quality and impact of social work practice within the scope of this visit have strengthened. ‌"Social workers complete timely and well-written social work assessments and plans, although the approach to neglect is variable and sometimes lacks sufficient professional curiosity. Inconsistent approach to neglect means that social workers do not always have a clearly identified structure or purpose to their work." They also looked at the impact of leaders on social work practice.