A new Ofsted report on children's services run by Suffolk County Council suggests they have deteriorated since 2019 - but youngsters in care are still very safe.
The new report says the service requires improvement in three of its four areas - but this relates mainly to issues affecting the consistency of the service across the county rather than concerns about the treatment of youngsters themselves.
And on the crucial topic of the treatment and progress of children in care, Suffolk is rated good.
The last Ofsted report on the service was published in 2019 when the service was rated as Outstanding.
This time inspectors concluded that children’s safeguarding is strong but they highlighted weakness in some of the processes and systems in place.
These included inconsistences with the way first contact with children and young people is processed, and the quality and support to children aged 16 and 17 who present as homeless.
It also found inconsistences in the level of understanding that care leavers have about the range of support available to them.
The report outlined seven points for improvement - and the council said these have either been implemented already through small changes to systems or processes, or are in progress. 
Bobby Bennett, cabinet member for children and young people said: “It is disappointing that Ofsted didn’t find all our services to be consistently good.
“However, what really counts is that the report shows that our children are safe and well-taken care of and - in particular - our children in care are thriving.
“We need to improve some of our processes and systems, and address inconsistencies in the way we do things. These things can be improved with small uncomplicated amends and a plan of action agreed by Ofsted.
“I was delighted to read the extent of praise for staff throughout the report, including the strength of relationships with the children and families we work with, and their sensitivity and compassion. This public recognition is huge testament to their hard work and dedication.”
The opposition Green, Liberal Democrat and Independent group said the report showed a decline in service levels over the last five years.
Ash Lever, GLI Group Spokesperson for Education and Child Protection, said: “This report is especially worrying because the council’s social care services for children were until recently rated Outstanding. It seems like the Conservative administration has lost its grip.
"We know there are excellent people working in children’s services at Suffolk County Council and they do an amazing and sometimes very difficult job – we’re so pleased that the report recognised the great work that social care practitioners are doing with Suffolk kids.
"But we are aware it has been a period of change over the last year or so, and that can be very challenging.
"The report states clearly that ‘leaders have not had sufficient grip across all parts of children’s services.’ Hopefully the appointment of a new permanent, full-time director for children’s services will help turn things around again.
"We hope the Conservative administration will make these improvements – both for SEND services and children’s social care – their number one priority.”
Following publication of the report, an action plan will be sent to Ofsted by the end of September and a partnership board will be set up to oversee improvements. The council will also carry out a quality assurance review of systems and processes.
Ipswich MP Jack Abbott was Labour spokesman on children's services at the county before he entered parliament - and met with county officials after the Ofsted report was published.
He said: “The latest OFSTED report into Suffolk County Council’s children’s services is concerning.
“The report shows that services for vulnerable children have deteriorated over the past five years, and serious improvements are required right across the board.
“I have already met with Suffolk County Council to discuss the findings, and will work closely with them to turn this situation around. Our children in Suffolk need and deserve so much better than the findings of this report.”
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