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Birmingham City Council's children's services to be run by a trust Birmingham City Council's children's services to be run by a trust
(about 2 hours later)
Birmingham's children's services will be run by a trust after years of failings which saw the department named "a national disgrace" by inspectors.Birmingham's children's services will be run by a trust after years of failings which saw the department named "a national disgrace" by inspectors.
Ofsted has rated the service "inadequate" since 2009 and improvement has "not gone far enough, fast enough", the Department for Education has said.Ofsted has rated the service "inadequate" since 2009 and improvement has "not gone far enough, fast enough", the Department for Education has said.
Child deaths include Khyra Ishaq, seven, who starved and Keanu Williams, two, who was murdered by his mother.Child deaths include Khyra Ishaq, seven, who starved and Keanu Williams, two, who was murdered by his mother.
The council said the voluntary decision will be finalised by the cabinet.The council said the voluntary decision will be finalised by the cabinet.
Latest reaction and updatesLatest reaction and updates
Birmingham children's services: A timeline of the problemsBirmingham children's services: A timeline of the problems
An authority spokesman said: "This is something we have been discussing for some time with the Department for Education (DfE) and this is the next logical step on our improvement journey."An authority spokesman said: "This is something we have been discussing for some time with the Department for Education (DfE) and this is the next logical step on our improvement journey."
He said the council would work with partners on how the trust will operate but the authority wanted to keep control of the design and delivery of services.He said the council would work with partners on how the trust will operate but the authority wanted to keep control of the design and delivery of services.
'Significant improvements''Significant improvements'
The government appointed Lord Warner as an external commissioner to oversee the running of children's services in the city in March 2014.The government appointed Lord Warner as an external commissioner to oversee the running of children's services in the city in March 2014.
Since then, he found there had been "significant improvements" but more was needed.Since then, he found there had been "significant improvements" but more was needed.
Andrew Christie from Westminster City Council replaced Lord Warner in December 2015 to continue a three-year review of the department.Andrew Christie from Westminster City Council replaced Lord Warner in December 2015 to continue a three-year review of the department.
Alison Holt, BBC social affairs correspondent, said the announcement of the voluntary trust was brought forward because of a Channel 4 Dispatches programme to be broadcast this week.Alison Holt, BBC social affairs correspondent, said the announcement of the voluntary trust was brought forward because of a Channel 4 Dispatches programme to be broadcast this week.
She said: "Similar children's trusts have been established to run services in places where there have been problems such as Doncaster and Slough.She said: "Similar children's trusts have been established to run services in places where there have been problems such as Doncaster and Slough.
"They often rely on groups of experts, charities and high-performing local authorities to provide support.""They often rely on groups of experts, charities and high-performing local authorities to provide support."
Phil Mackie, BBC News correspondent Analysis
by Phil Mackie, BBC News correspondent
Insiders have been telling me that while improvements have been made to Birmingham children's services, the department still struggles to retain staff and therefore relies heavily on agency workers.Insiders have been telling me that while improvements have been made to Birmingham children's services, the department still struggles to retain staff and therefore relies heavily on agency workers.
They also say that social workers can still be dealing with between 20 and 30 individual cases, even though a maximum of 15 is recommended.They also say that social workers can still be dealing with between 20 and 30 individual cases, even though a maximum of 15 is recommended.
Critics of the council have been calling for a change along these lines for years, but it's unlikely that the new voluntary trust, however it is set up, will be a panacea for the city's problems.Critics of the council have been calling for a change along these lines for years, but it's unlikely that the new voluntary trust, however it is set up, will be a panacea for the city's problems.
Birmingham's central belt is one of the most deprived areas in the country and the city's population is rapidly growing.Birmingham's central belt is one of the most deprived areas in the country and the city's population is rapidly growing.
Whoever takes charge will have to address recruitment and morale as a matter of urgency.Whoever takes charge will have to address recruitment and morale as a matter of urgency.
A blogger who runs Facebook page Social Work Tutor said he had been contacted by a social worker filmed for Dispatches.
He said: "She told me the team have been under intense pressure because they were having what they thought were confidential conversations.
"As you've seen, it talks about exposing a service which is struggling, where decision-making is clouded and the protection of children isn't good."
He added: "Somebody, somewhere has had the responsibility to turn this around. Three years is a long time when the cost of failure isn't monetary, it isn't logistical, it is children dying and children seriously injured.
"Doncaster was the first authority in England to go into a trust and has seen a fall in referrals. A trust will bring an added level of accountability. The evidence we've seen from Doncaster is that this can only be a good thing for staff, children and social workers."