A children’s services boss has stepped down following a damning Ofsted inspection earlier in the year.

Middlesbrough Council has confirmed executive director of children’s services, Helen Watson, has left from her role at the local authority with effect from the end of February.

Mrs Watson’s departure follows an Ofsted report, published on January 24, that found Middlesbrough Council’s childrens services to be “inadequate” across the board.

Ofsted inspectors said the service had “deteriorated” since 2017 and there were “serious and widespread failures”.

Children had been left too long in harmful situations, risks were not properly recognised and insufficient action was taken to help, the inspectors said.

Middlesbrough Council released a statement confirming Mrs Watson’s departure. The council also announced that acting director of children’s care, Sue Butcher, will now take on the role of director of children’s services (DCS) in an interim capacity, with “a focus on improvement”.

Catherine Parry has been appointed to the post of director of children’s services, also on an interim basis. The council says she “brings with her considerable experience from similar roles elsewhere in the country”.

Middlesbrough Council chief executive, Tony Parkinson, said: “I’m grateful to Helen for her work over the last three and a half years and her undoubted commitment, and wish her well for the future.

“However the shortcomings identified by Ofsted make it clear that it’s time for a change.

“Both Sue and Catherine are very experienced leaders in this field and have a proven track record of improving services in other places.

“I’m confident that they will enable us to address the issues we face, and deliver the improvements required of us with pace and focus.”

Regarding her departure, Mrs Watson said: “I would like to pass on my best wishes and thanks to all staff who work tirelessly to benefit the lives of children, young people and families in Middlesbrough.”

Middlesbrough Independent Councillors Association (MICA) leader, Cllr Jon Rathmell, said: “It was inevitable that people had to step down given the damning Ofsted report, Helen has done the honourable thing and stepped down.

“What does need answering is why the chief executive remains in post, he came from a social care background and at the members briefings he stated that he was ultimately responsible and the report is not acceptable.

“I think it’s clear evidence of the weak political leadership that they’ve not taken the necessary action three months after the report findings were known.”

Conservative group leader, Cllr David Coupe, said: “I have worked with Helen over the years and I would like to wish her all the best in the future.

“We now need to move on and really make sure we get a grip on children’s services because the situation is serious.”

Labour group leader, Cllr Matt Storey, declined to comment.