DfE to consider stripping 'inadequate' council of children's services
Neil Puffett
Friday, March 10, 2017
A review will take place into whether a council should be stripped of responsibility for children's services after inspectors found that vulnerable children were being left at risk of harm.
Children's services at Worcestershire County Council were rated "inadequate" in January, with inspectors finding "widespread and serious" failures in provision for both children living in the community, and those who had been taken into care.
The DfE has issued a direction notice appointing Trevor Doughty, currently director of children's services in Cornwall, as commissioner for children's services in Worcestershire.
They have asked him to advise on possible alternative delivery and governance arrangements for children's social care, outside of the operational control of the local authority, taking account of local circumstances and the views of the council and key partners.
Doughty has been asked to report to children's minister Edward Timpson by 2 June.
Ofsted's inspection report said that "senior leaders were unaware of the critical issues that were identified by inspectors during the inspection".
However, inspectors added that, in recent months, a new senior leadership team, including the lead member, director of children's services, independent chair of the local safeguarding children board and assistant directors for safeguarding and provider services, had taken up post and were "starting to provide much-needed focus and drive".