The Department for Education has chosen Hillingdon as one of only six local authorities to serve as a Children's Improvement Team provider, a designation that places the borough among a small group of high-performing councils asked to support improvements in children’s services elsewhere.
National recognition for local progress
The selection is described by the Department for Education as a national endorsement of Hillingdon’s progress, expertise and leadership in children’s social care. As a designated provider, the borough will be paired with another local authority this autumn and will offer support for up to two years.
Local leaders and practitioners in Hillingdon will join a programme intended to spread effective practice and to help drive reform across the sector. The borough’s new responsibilities are an acknowledgement of the improvements it has made in its own services and an expectation that it can help others to raise standards.
What this means for Hillingdon residents
- Profile and influence: Hillingdon will play a role in shaping approaches to children’s social care beyond the borough.
- Partnership working: council staff will be tasked with transferring expertise to a matched authority over the coming months and years.
- Longer-term commitment: support provided may extend for up to two years, implying sustained involvement rather than a short advisory visit.
The authority’s appointment also brings practical questions for local stakeholders, including how the council will balance its new external commitments with ongoing work at home, and what resources and staff time will be redirected to the improvement role.
"Hillingdon has been selected by the Department for Education to support improvements in children’s services across other local authorities," the Department said.
Context within national improvement arrangements
Only six authorities have been chosen for the provider role nationally, marking a selective group trusted to offer support across the children’s services sector. The arrangement will see Hillingdon paired with a local authority this autumn, and the partnership could last for up to two years.
| Designation | Detail |
|---|---|
| Provider type | Children's Improvement Team |
| Number of provider authorities nationally | Six |
| Hillingdon's commitment | Paired with another authority this autumn; support for up to two years |
For residents, the designation is both a signal of progress and a reminder that children’s services remain the subject of continuous improvement and scrutiny. The borough’s new role offers Hillingdon the chance to influence national practice while continuing to deliver services locally.
