A government minister and a senior official have sent separate letters to praise the improvements in social care for children in Brighton and Hove.
The congratulation letters follow an inspection report by the official watchdog Ofsted.
The report rated children’s social care services provided by Brighton and Hove City Council as good for the first time.
Previously children’s social care was rated as “requires improvement”.
Ofsted’s national director of social care, Yvette Stanley, described the council’s “good” judgment as a significant achievement”.
In a letter to the council’s executive director of children’s services, Pinaki Ghoshal, she said: “I am sure that the good inspection outcome reflects the hard work and tenacity, of yourself, your leadership team, managers and frontline staff, as well as the wider council and your safeguarding partners.
“You should all be proud of the positive difference you have made for the children and families of Brighton and Hove.
“Please pass on my congratulations to all the Brighton and Hove colleagues who have contributed to this achievement as well as extending my personal thanks to all the staff, children, foster carers and wider stakeholders who participated in the inspection process.
“Please also accept my very best wishes for the next phases of your continuous improvement journey.”
In a separate letter to council leader Daniel Yates, the Children and Families Minister, Nadhim Zahawi, described the “good” Ofsted judgment as a “very positive outcome”.
He said: “The report also demonstrates the impressively high aspirations the council has for children in care and care leavers, who are entering further and higher education at rates above those of national comparators.”
