Improvement Notice
12 Jan: On 21 December 2011, the Department for Education issued Waltham Forest Council with an Improvement Notice due to poor performance in Looked After Children’s Services. As shown in the Notice, this was on the basis of evidence contained in the report of the inspection of safeguarding and looked after children’s services carried out by Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), published on 28 October 2011.
The Notice identifies 12 key measures where the Council is required to take action. The Council has developed an improvement plan to address each of these measures and set up an improvement board with an independent chair to oversee progress. A formal review of progress will be held after six months.
Download the improvement notice (993KB PDF file) and letter from Tim Loughton MP (404 KB PDF file).
Children and Families' Teams
12 Jan: The Children and Families' Teams are moving to Juniper House, opposite Walthamstow Central station.
- Child Protection, Planning and Partnering, now at Juniper House
- Placement and Resources, now at Juniper House
- Children in Care, now at Juniper House
From Monday 16 January 2012
- Referral and Assessment, currently located at 8 Buxton Road
- Planning and Intervention, currently located at 1 Russell Road
- Children with disability, currently located at the Wood Street Health Centre, 6 Linford Road
Will be based at
Juniper House
221 Hoe Street
Walthamstow
London
E17 9PH
020 8496 3000
Please note there is no public or visitor parking
Public opening hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Fostering information sessions
If you are interested in fostering and would like to find out more, come along and meet the team and foster carers at one of our information sessions.
Adoption open evenings
If you are interested in adoption and would like to find out more, come along and meet the team at one of our open evenings .
» More information on open evenings
Coram Family Assessment Service
Waltham Forest Council has entered into a partnership with children's charity Coram, to deliver independent assessments of families as part of the pre-proceedings process.
The service is being delivered at the Coram Family Assessment Centre, 39a Hurst Road, Walthamstow E17.
For a list of frequently asked questions, click here or call Coram direct on 020 8223 1350.
Free Early Education (FEE) for 2-year olds
Do you have a 2 year old? Your child may be eligible to receive 15 hours free early education.
» More on Free Early Education places for 2 year olds
Direct Payments
Help people who are caring for a disabled child or disabled parent to take control
of the services they receive to support them in their caring role
» More information
on Direct Payments
Family Information Service
The Family Information Service is a free, impartial service giving detailed information and advice on childcare as well as general information on a wide range of services for children and young people and their families in Waltham Forest.
» more on the Family Information Service
Children and Young Peoples Directory
The Children and Young Peoples Directory is a one stop shop for all activities, events and advice for children, young people, parents and carers in the Borough and surrounding areas.
» Visit the Children and Young Peoples Directory
Common Assessment Framework Training (CAF)
The CAF team have a new programme of two-day working training. This training will focus on Information sharing, Common Assessment Framework and Lead Professional. Staff working with children and families will need to have this training.
There are many courses with places available through September 2010 - March 2011 so ensure that you are up to date with your practice and development and the standard early intervention process in Waltham Forest.
» More information on CAF training.
Child Poverty Strategy 2009-2020
Waltham Forest’s Local Strategic Partnership is determined to eradicate child poverty - by raising incomes, skill levels and aspirations, and supporting people during tough times. The Child Poverty Strategy for Waltham Forest puts tackling child poverty and unlocking the talents of residents at the very heart of this work.
Download the Child Poverty Strategy (231 KB PDF file) or the Action Plan (132 KB PDF file) for more information.
