Salford council’s beleaguered children’s services has been branded ‘inadequate’ for the second time in four years.
The ranking is the lowest a local authority can get.
A report by Ofsted inspectors, not due to be published until later this month, criticises provision for the care of children in council-run homes and those deemed to be at risk in the community.
Bosses at the Labour-controlled council today refused to discuss the report.
One source said: “It is the second time the safeguarding of children has been inadequate – the first time was in 2007 – and there is now a real danger that a government team could be sent in to run the department.”
In February 2008 consultants appointed by Whitehall said the council needed to take urgent action over support for children at risk of neglect. The council tried to hush up the government’s involvement.
Then, in July 2008 two-year-old Demi Leigh Mahon, who was known to the council’s social services department, was murdered by her 15-year-old baby-sitter, Karl McCluney.
A serious case review into her death was damning about failures by the council, health professionals, and police in responding to the risks to Demi.
She was let down 12 times by social workers who were warned by police five times, neighbours five times, and her grandmother twice about her chaotic domestic life.
Jill Baker – the strategic director of children’s services – was subsequently sacked. She is taking the council to an employment tribunal and has vowed to clear her name.
Last month Coun John Warmisham was moved from his post as head of children’s services, and three senior managers in the department have left in recent months.
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It is deeply upsetting to see that Salford Council are once again failing our children. Under the stewardship of John Warmisham the department has lurched from one disaster to the next. From the falings over Demi Leigh Mahon to the disasterous Building Schools for the Future programme, Childrens Services got it wrong every step of the way. Whilst Cllr Warmisham has now been moved out of the Lead Member for Children's Services post to another department, the situation for our children has reached crisis point and I urge the government to step in and take control.
This council cannot be trusted to protect our children - it has proved that time and time again.
So what high paying job has Warmisham been given now - despite proving that he is not competent? And am I right in thinking then, that a childrens services department gets the lowest possible rating it can earn - meaning that children are certainly in dager - and they are not looked at again for another four years? If that is the case there is something very wrong!
What about all the parents letting "THEIR" children down.its not just the system that fail children ,parents should take some flack for the failings as well.Ive seen some really great parents being given some really bad stick for making their kids do their homework before they are allowed out to play? ive even heard teachers slag these parents off,for being so stern? no wonder we have so many children being maintained by the state when the main problem should be sorted by the childrens parents.These council run homes cannot control a lot of these children because of their "Human rights".they cannot raise their voices to these children in fear of loosing their jobs or being taken to court .weve come to far down the PC road for these services to work properly.
I am with Zingo on this, the council should not have to look after children it is the parents, who will now spend the summer sat outside pubs not giving two hooks where their offspring are.
The inspectors should inspect parenting in Salford, thats where most of the problem lies
Not all parents are outside pubs, there is alot of parents who care for there children very well, unfortunatley Children Services/social services have let alot of children down who they know are or have been abused and evidence proves it. The problem is children are being failed not just by children services, social services, police, doctors but by everyone who turns a blind eye. Whitehall need to be brought in and the sooner the better before another child dies. A specialist team who will act and protect children who are not affraid to take on the establishment. Employees need to be protected from blowing the whistle on bad management and solicitors who have the balls to take on such services for negligence. Someone once told me "There will always be abuse you will never be able to stop it". Im sorry but this is wrong, no child should have to lose there life in order for someone to sit up and listen, for news papers to publish the horrors that child endured before they tragically lost their life.There are alot of children out there being abused right now and this is why Whitehall needs to be brought in.
Parent salford
I totally disagree with you ,at one time the community and family would sort problems out but now parents dont give a toss they leave it to the social services/government to sort "their" problems out because they are to busy watching football on tv or out at the boozer.If parents put more effort into educating/having time with their children most of the community/childrens problems would be solved "Parents problems" not the states/social workers. PUT THEM OUT OF A JOB AND START TO LOOK AFTER YOUR CHILDREN.Dont just stick some sweets in their hands and throw them out on the street to play.Britain is full of LAZY Parents.
if the ofsted report has not been published yet...and won't be for another month or so.....
all this is hearsay surely?
once again Manchester can't resist bashing Salford....mind you, it deflects attention from their own inadeqaucies doesn't it?
Stop slamming the SS it will only make them worse, they are too brutal in Salford as it is.