Option to increase council tax.
Children’s Social Care
The law says that the council must take action to protect the most vulnerable children in our county and keep them safe from harm. Children’s Services lead in fulfilling this duty on behalf of the council and lead the work of the multi-agency partnership through the multi-agency Dorset Safeguarding Children Partnership Board, now chaired by Dorset Council's Chief Executive.
The Dorset Strategic Alliance for Children and Young People, a multi-agency partnership, brings together senior people from the council, police, health, fire and rescue services, schools, early years settings and the voluntary and community sector to shape and transform services for children and young people to secure improved outcomes, and overseas the partnership's 10 year Children, Young people and Families Plan
Our aim is for 'Dorset to be the best place to be a child, where communities thrive, and families are supported to be the best they can be.”
The services we provide include:
Early help and schools support
The council provides a range of local specialist support services and employs staff to ensure children are supported in school and other early years settings (e.g. pre-schools and nurseries). This includes speech and language therapy and education psychology services. We also support the voluntary and community sector to deliver high quality early support and provide systems leadership across the county.
Children receive help and support where they live, at school and in the community where they feel safe. We carry out assessments to help understand individual children's and family's needs and how we can support them. We support children in school who may be struggling and those with special educational needs and disabilities to attend school and make progress. We help those pupils at risk of being excluded from schools or provide alternative places to learn if they have already been excluded.
The Council also provides specific parenting support and has a network of Family Hubs which bring together a range of universal and targeted services for children and their families including child and family health advice, family support and a range of parent and toddler activities.
Adults commissioning is a process that local authorities use to plan, analyse and monitor the care services provided to residents.
Adult social work operations involve contracts that are aimed at improving the lives of individuals with disabilities or long-term illnesses.
Our housing service is responsible for providing stable and affordable housing to the community. They also manage damp and mould. They provide emergency and temporary housing for those facing homelessness.
Highways manage Dorset’s road network, including parking, maintenance, safety, and infrastructure improvements to keep people and vehicles moving efficiently.
Dorset Travel provides safe and reliable transport services for school children, vulnerable passengers, and the wider community across Dorset.
Flood and coastal erosion risk management protects people, property, and infrastructure from flooding and coastal erosion through engineering works and long-term resilience planning.
The greenspace team maintains and enhances Dorset’s countryside sites, public rights of way, and green assets to support biodiversity and community wellbeing.
The health and activity team encourages residents to get active through accessible outdoor activities, health walks, and exercise programmes for all abilities.
Commercial waste and strategy delivers cost-effective waste services for businesses and sets strategic plans to reduce waste, increase recycling, and support a circular economy.
Waste operations runs kerbside collections, recycling centres, and street cleaning to manage household waste and keep Dorset clean.
Economic growth and development drives sustainable economic growth by supporting businesses, attracting investment, and delivering regeneration initiatives.
The Harbours team operates and maintains Dorset’s three harbours to enable safe navigation, trade, and leisure activities while protecting coastal infrastructure.
Leisure, arts and cultural services provides opportunities for sport, arts, and cultural engagement to enrich community life and wellbeing.
The assets and property team manages council-owned land and buildings to optimise use, maintain safety, and support service delivery.
Planning shapes Dorset’s future development through planning policy, applications, and sustainable land use decisions.
This includes the Financial Services team who oversees budgeting, accounting, and financial planning for the council. Also, the Revenues & Benefits Team who help residents and businesses manage their financial responsibilities to the council and access financial support when needed. They ensure that council tax and business rates are collected fairly and efficiently.
The ICT Operations Team makes sure that the council’s technology systems run smoothly, securely, and reliably. They support the digital infrastructure that powers everything from council websites and email systems to the software used by employees to deliver services.
The Customer Services Team is the first point of contact for many people with the council. They help residents, businesses, and visitors access information, request services, and resolve issues across a wide range of council functions.
The Libraries Team provides a vital public service that supports learning, literacy, wellbeing, and community engagement. They manage local library branches and services to ensure everyone in the community has access to books, information, digital resources, and inclusive spaces.
The Democratic and Electoral Services Team ensures that local democracy runs smoothly and fairly. They support elected councillors, manage council meetings, and oversee elections and voter registration. Their work helps residents engage with local decision-making and ensures transparency and accountability in how the council operates.
The Land Charges team ensure that important legal and planning information about land and property is properly recorded and shared. This service is especially important for people buying or selling property, as it helps identify any restrictions, responsibilities, or conditions that apply to the land.