Key Points
- A focused visit by Ofsted inspectors Monique Lindsay and Mark Scanlon to Hackney Council took place on June 23 and 24, evaluating support systems for care leavers, specifically targeting vulnerable groups such as young parents, former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people in custody.
- Ofsted found that most care leavers are making positive progress into adulthood, supported by practical, emotional, and therapeutic care.
- The watchdog highlighted the value of warm, trusting, and purposeful relationships between care leavers and practitioners, noting that staff are ambitious for the young people.
- Inspectors commended the success of the ‘Sonder Space’ care leavers hub, which opened in June 2025 and provides a stable, welcoming venue for practical advice, friendships, activities, and drop-in support.
- Corporate leaders were praised for demonstrating clear commitment to their corporate parenting responsibilities and strategic partnerships spanning housing, health, and wider council departments.
- Areas for minor improvement included ensuring consistency in prompt case record completions and rectifying an administrative gap where a small number of care leavers aged 18–21 lacked an allocated named practitioner—an issue promptly addressed by leaders during the visit.
- Cllr Soraya Adejare, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Early Intervention, expressed delight at the recognition, thanking frontline staff, social workers, and partners.
London (Extra London News) July 27, 2026 – Hackney Council’s dedicated services for care leavers have earned high praise from education watchdogs following a rigorous two-day evaluation. The comprehensive assessment, which zoomed in on the real-world experiences and outcomes of some of the borough’s most vulnerable adolescents and young adults, revealed that the overwhelming majority of participants are successfully navigating their transition into independent adulthood. According to findings released by His Majesty’s Inspectors following a focused visit on June 23 and 24, the local authority has considerably strengthened its support framework since its previous comprehensive inspection.
- Key Points
- What did Ofsted inspectors discover during their focused visit to Hackney Council?
- How is Sonder Space helping Hackney care leavers?
- What support do unaccompanied asylum-seeking children receive?
- Were any areas of improvement identified by the watchdog?
- How has Hackney Council responded to the Ofsted praise?
What did Ofsted inspectors discover during their focused visit to Hackney Council?
The regulatory assessment conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectors Monique Lindsay and Mark Scanlon heavily scrutinised local arrangements, paying meticulous attention to high-risk cohorts including young parents, former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people entangled in the justice system.
As detailed in the official evaluation, corporate leaders within the local authority have exhibited a robust dedication to their duties as corporate parents.
As reported by journalists covering the local authority updates, Ofsted found that Hackney’s care leavers benefit significantly from “warm, trusting and purposeful relationships” with practitioners who maintain high ambitions for their future success.
Inspectors noted that the organization’s systemic, trauma-informed, and anti-racist operational model is deeply embedded into everyday practice rather than treated as a superficial administrative framework.
How is Sonder Space helping Hackney care leavers?
A focal point of the watchdog’s praise was the establishment and operational success of the ‘Sonder Space’ care leavers hub.
Opened in June 2025, the dedicated facility acts as a stable, welcoming environment where young people can drop in without formal appointments to gather practical advice, build peer friendships, engage in recreational activities, and access targeted support.
According to inspection findings published via official channels, practitioners routinely meet young people in environments where they feel most comfortable, whether that is directly within their home residences, at the Sonder Space hub, or across community settings.
This flexible outreach allows caseworkers to closely monitor changes in personal circumstances and formulate deeply personalized case records.
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What support do unaccompanied asylum-seeking children receive?
The evaluation threw a special spotlight on the specialized care extended to former unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Inspectors observed that these specific young people receive highly responsive care from knowledgeable practitioners who display a nuanced understanding of immigration complexities, cultural identity, past trauma, and long-term settlement challenges.
Specialist personal advisors attached to this cohort were commended for building enduring relationships that successfully coordinate legal, emotional, and practical provisions, encompassing housing security, educational enrolment, and healthcare access.
Were any areas of improvement identified by the watchdog?
Despite the overwhelmingly positive trajectory of the department, inspectors pointed out minor operational inconsistencies that require institutional attention.
Specifically, the review uncovered a small group of young people aged between 18 and 21 who had not been assigned a named practitioner, which constitutes a breach of statutory guidelines.
Furthermore, the report noted that while visits are conducted regularly, corresponding case documentation and visit recordings are occasionally delayed, preventing files from maintaining a completely up-to-date account of every individual’s daily experience.
However, the regulatory feedback acknowledged that leadership responded instantly upon discovery of the unallocated practitioners, immediately assigning named caseworkers to conduct immediate needs assessments.
How has Hackney Council responded to the Ofsted praise?
Local political leaders have welcomed the regulatory validation, emphasizing that consistency remains the foundational bedrock of effective social care.
As reported by the Hackney Council News team, Cllr Soraya Adejare, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Early Intervention, stated that:
“We are delighted that Ofsted has recognised the strength of the relationships we have built with our care leavers. We want to thank all our service leads, frontline staff, social workers, and partners, who show up for these young people every single day, and who have made these improvements possible.”
Cllr Adejare further added:
“We know that consistency is the foundation of effective support. We are fully committed to ensuring that all the young people in our care have everything they need to reach their full potential and pursue the ambitions that matter to them most.”
With strategic partnerships successfully linking children’s services directly to housing, health sectors, and corporate departments, Hackney Council remains on a firm footing to steer its vulnerable youth population toward prosperous and independent futures.
