At Tuesday night’s Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel meeting, when the subject of the damning Ofsted report into child protection was reached, members immediately questioned the unusual absence of the Deputy Director of Children’s Safeguarding.
Ian Anderson, Director for Community Wellbeing and Social Care, informed members of the Panel that the Deputy Director was “not with us this evening because she is not currently in work.”
Beynon: Procedures “found wanting”
Chief Executive, Steve Beynon said that procedures put in place by the Deputy Director of Children’s Safeguarding have been “found wanting”.
Leader of the council, Cllr David Pugh reported that “following discussions with Cllr Cousins, I have asked the Chief Executive and Strategic Director to urgently review whether that current management of children’s safeguarding both in the personnel and structure has the capacity to deliver the step change in performance that is required in this area.”
“We’re not convinced that the current arrangements have the capacity to develop to a sufficiently high standard in the future.”
Revised proposed management structure
Cllr Pugh went on to say that he would be presenting a revised proposed management structure for the whole council to the employment committee on the 4th March.
Later during the meeting, Cllr Mazillius told members that if he were standing for election and returned to council in May, he would be very unhappy if the Deputy Director was still with the council.
Anderson: Other staff ‘dealt with’
Mr Anderson told members that a very experienced interim manger to sit between the Deputy Director and the group managers, and that three members of staff working within child safeguarding have been dealt with, over issues of competency.
He explained they had either left the authority or moved to other areas where they would not be dealing with safeguarding issues.
Background
Readers may remember that Children’s Services was merged with Adult Social Care back in December 2010, when Ian Anderson was appointed head of both and Colin Peak, head of Director for Community Services left the council.
