Children and young people across Hertfordshire are receiving high-quality care and support, according to a new Ofsted inspection.

Inspectors praised Hertfordshire County Council's "relentless ambition" for children and families, highlighting strong leadership, a dedicated workforce and the progress made by children in the council's care.

The latest inspection of the county council's Children's Services found that most children are receiving the right support at the right time.

Under Ofsted's new inspection system, Hertfordshire received an Outstanding judgement for the impact of leaders on social work practice and for the experiences and progress of children in care.

Services for children who need help and protection were judged Good, while the experiences and progress of care leavers were also rated Good.

Ofsted no longer awards councils a single overall Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate judgement for children's services.

The inspection found that Hertfordshire has sustained the progress recognised at its previous inspection in 2023, when it received the same combination of two Outstanding and two Good judgements.

Inspectors highlighted work being carried out to help families remain together safely wherever possible.

This included the Building Bridges service, which helps children return home safely, as well as efforts to enable more children in care to live in stable homes close to their families, communities and existing support networks.

The report also praised the way the views of children and young people are being used to shape services.

Inspectors found that council leaders had created a positive working culture in which staff felt valued and supported, helping social workers build lasting relationships with children and families.

However, Ofsted identified areas where further improvements could be made.

These included strengthening some processes involving multiple agencies and increasing housing options for vulnerable young people leaving care.

Inspectors said council leaders were already aware of these issues and taking action.

Cllr Hillary Skoczylas, Hertfordshire County Council's Executive Member for Children and Families, said: "This is a fantastic endorsement of the dedication, compassion and ambition shown every day by our staff and partners across Hertfordshire.

"Most importantly, it tells us that children and young people are getting the support they need to be safe, happy and successful, and that families are being helped at the right time to overcome challenges and build brighter futures.

"We are particularly proud that Ofsted recognised not only our sustained progress since the last inspection, but also that some areas of practice have improved further."

Cllr Skoczylas added that the authority was "never complacent" and had already begun working with partners on the areas highlighted for further improvement.

She said the council remained focused on ensuring "every child in Hertfordshire feels safe, supported and able to achieve their full potential".