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13/11/03 - County Council acts on critical Children's Services Inspection Report

A Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) assessment of Cumbria County Council’s Children’s Services has found areas of practice that are unsafe and not meeting statutory guidance.

Following last month’s assessment, the SSI has revised down its overall assessment of the Council’s Social Services Department’s to a zero star rating. 

The Children’s Service inspection found there was:

  • Lack of systematic implementation of the obligatory National Assessment Framework   
  • Lack of cohesive strategic planning    
  • Poor data collection and performance management systems   
  • Lack of a cohesive approach to multi-agency working 
  • Poor care assessment, planning and recording   
  • Poor administrative and management system that are failing to ensure practice issues are addressed   

Council Leader Rex Toft said:

“We are bitterly disappointed by the assessment and what it means for those people we are trusted with caring for.  Members were aware the Children’s Service was facing major challenges but were advised the situation was being adequately managed.  The SSI inspection has shown that in many areas this was not the case.  The highest priority of all members of this Council is to have safe and robust systems in place to protect children in our care.

County Councillor, John Mallinson Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social Services said:

“I am very saddened by the Inspector’s findings and the resulting zero star rating for Cumbria Social Services.  As a County Council we have given strong support to our social services department, including developing an improvement performance plan and increasing the budget by £4million (21%) over the last two years.  This investment in the service means that many service improvements are in the pipeline but much more work needs to be done.

We have recently appointed a new Head of Children’s and Family Services and a new interim Director of Social Services.  I am confident this new leadership will turn the department around so we can meet the standards set by government to safeguard the interests of children in our care. 

The Leadership of the Council is working hard with Social Services managers to produce an action plan that addresses the concerns raised by the SSI.  

Rex Toft added: 

 

“I have called for a number of reports on the many issues arising from this situation.  This process is not yet complete, but I am determined to alert the people of Cumbria to the SSI Report and our response to it.  However, I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of this process at this stage.”