The issues highlighted by the departure of Peter Lewis as Somerset interim DCS illustrate the difficult task facing senior managers at struggling authorities, and highlight why improvement in children's services is not solely dependent on tackling problems in social work practice or child protection systems.
According to Lewis, the pace of progress was checked by an unwieldy IT system and a lack of cross-authority support. Councils are large organisations, but their constituent parts do not work in isolation.
Those who think differently should bear in mind that what happens in children's services today can have a major impact – positive and negative – on those they serve, who will be the adults and parents of tomorrow.
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