18/11/03 - Interim Corporate Director of Social Services

Following press allegations about Ken Young, who had been due to start work on 17thNovember as Cumbria County Council’s Interim Corporate Director of Social Services, the Council and Mr Young mutually reconsidered their position.

No evidence to substantiate the allegations has been made available to the Council, but Mr young and the Council believe that the media coverage has caused so much potential damage to confidence amongst staff and public that it has been made impossible for Mr Young to take up his new post in a productive atmosphere.

The Council’s portfolio holder for Social Services, Councillor John Mallinson, says

“We are very reluctant to see this happen, but we are grateful that our current Acting Director, Jean Bradshaw, has offered to continue in her post for the time being.

Our major improvement programme for Children’s Services will continue with energy and determination whilst we seek to recruit another Interim Director.

In the first week of December we will be discussing with the Government our plans to further enhance this improvement programme and fully address the issues raised with us by the Social Services Inspectorate.”