4Children chief Imelda Redmond says a perfect storm of contract losses, government policy inertia and shortage of cash reserves led to the charity going into administration, while ex-chief Anne Longfield says she left it in "good shape".
Ofsted had made visits to a small number of high-performing organisations in a bid to capture some essential attributes and strong examples of excellent leadership practice in children's services across the country.
Forging good relationships with local politicians can be challenging for children's services leaders, but if managed well, they can be mutually beneficial and help local authorities be more successful.
Since taking on the running of youth work in Knowsley and Kensington and Chelsea, youth mutuals have increased income, maintained services and reduced overheads, but it has not been an easy transition, say those in charge.
Involving young people in shaping services can transform their lives and those of others. However, participation must be meaningful, fun, interactive and may generate outcomes you are not expecting.
Having outsourced day-to-day management of its children's services to an NHS trust, Trafford Council plans to become the first area to fully integrate social care and community health services for children and adults.