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Resignations after care criticism Resignations after care criticism
(20 minutes later)
Midlothian Council's deputy leader and its social work director have resigned after a damning report found services to protect abused children were "weak".Midlothian Council's deputy leader and its social work director have resigned after a damning report found services to protect abused children were "weak".
The HMIE report said social work managers sometimes failed to deal with the problems of the most vulnerable.The HMIE report said social work managers sometimes failed to deal with the problems of the most vulnerable.
Some were left in high-risk situations while those in care or under protection were not seen regularly by staff.Some were left in high-risk situations while those in care or under protection were not seen regularly by staff.
Education Minister Hugh Henry said the problems must be tackled as a matter of "extreme urgency".Education Minister Hugh Henry said the problems must be tackled as a matter of "extreme urgency".
The council's deputy leader, Danny Molloy, who is also in charge of the social work department, and director of social work Malcolm McEwan resigned following the publication of the report.The council's deputy leader, Danny Molloy, who is also in charge of the social work department, and director of social work Malcolm McEwan resigned following the publication of the report.
It does identify failings in management, reporting and evaluation which compromised child protection at that time Danny MolloyIt does identify failings in management, reporting and evaluation which compromised child protection at that time Danny Molloy
Mr Molloy said: "I have political responsibility for the service and I accept this and have resigned my portfolio and my position within Midlothian Council as depute leader.Mr Molloy said: "I have political responsibility for the service and I accept this and have resigned my portfolio and my position within Midlothian Council as depute leader.
"I would wish to add that social workers do a very difficult job under exceptionally challenging circumstances and this HMIE report does not challenge the professionalism, ability or the commitment of social workers."I would wish to add that social workers do a very difficult job under exceptionally challenging circumstances and this HMIE report does not challenge the professionalism, ability or the commitment of social workers.
"However it does identify failings in management, reporting and evaluation which compromised child protection at that time.""However it does identify failings in management, reporting and evaluation which compromised child protection at that time."
Council leader Adam Montgomery said that after receiving verbal feedback from the audit team in September, the council had addressed many of the concerns raised.Council leader Adam Montgomery said that after receiving verbal feedback from the audit team in September, the council had addressed many of the concerns raised.
It had also set up a group to monitor the situation and its chief executive was now chairing the child protection committee.It had also set up a group to monitor the situation and its chief executive was now chairing the child protection committee.
Mr Montgomery added: "Responsibility has been accepted and Midlothian Council will ensure that all the improvement actions within the HMIE report are delivered as quickly as possible."Mr Montgomery added: "Responsibility has been accepted and Midlothian Council will ensure that all the improvement actions within the HMIE report are delivered as quickly as possible."
The report said vulnerable children's needs were not always metThe report said vulnerable children's needs were not always met
The report, which was carried out between June and September, said although workers stepped in quickly at times of crisis, their input was often too brief and short-term.The report, which was carried out between June and September, said although workers stepped in quickly at times of crisis, their input was often too brief and short-term.
"As a result, the needs of many of the most vulnerable children were not always met and some children were left at risk," it said."As a result, the needs of many of the most vulnerable children were not always met and some children were left at risk," it said.
"In some cases, insufficient attention had been paid to patterns of previous incidents and accumulating concerns, particularly in cases of neglect.""In some cases, insufficient attention had been paid to patterns of previous incidents and accumulating concerns, particularly in cases of neglect."
It said some workers focused on the drug and drink problems of parents but did not pay enough attention to the effect on their children.It said some workers focused on the drug and drink problems of parents but did not pay enough attention to the effect on their children.
The inspectors also said the monitoring and reviewing of child protection care plans, when a child's name was placed on the child protection register, were unclear.The inspectors also said the monitoring and reviewing of child protection care plans, when a child's name was placed on the child protection register, were unclear.
The report found that services to protect children were "weak" and "unsatisfactory" in most areas and concluded that work was urgently needed to develop clear policies.The report found that services to protect children were "weak" and "unsatisfactory" in most areas and concluded that work was urgently needed to develop clear policies.
'Extreme urgency''Extreme urgency'
The education minister said he had already met council leaders about the situation.The education minister said he had already met council leaders about the situation.
"This needs to be remedied as a matter of extreme urgency and I expect all agencies across Midlothian to act immediately to tackle the issues and to ensure that vulnerable children are not slipping through the net," he said."This needs to be remedied as a matter of extreme urgency and I expect all agencies across Midlothian to act immediately to tackle the issues and to ensure that vulnerable children are not slipping through the net," he said.
Mr Henry added: "I will keep in close touch with progress and developments to be assured that all appropriate steps are being taken to turn this situation round."Mr Henry added: "I will keep in close touch with progress and developments to be assured that all appropriate steps are being taken to turn this situation round."
Concerns had previously been flagged up in 2005 when a limited internal audit of the service was carried out but the latest report said the issues highlighted had not been addressed.Concerns had previously been flagged up in 2005 when a limited internal audit of the service was carried out but the latest report said the issues highlighted had not been addressed.
Communities minister Rhona Brankin, who is also the local Labour MSP for Midlothian, said: "The report sets out starkly the unpalatable fact that some local children are being failed by the system in Midlothian."Communities minister Rhona Brankin, who is also the local Labour MSP for Midlothian, said: "The report sets out starkly the unpalatable fact that some local children are being failed by the system in Midlothian."
Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Scottish National Party spokeswoman on children's issues, raised concern about a rise in vacant social worker posts in Midlothian.Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Scottish National Party spokeswoman on children's issues, raised concern about a rise in vacant social worker posts in Midlothian.
She added that social services were being "stretched beyond acceptable limits" in Scotland because of a funding shortfall which she said needed to be addressed.She added that social services were being "stretched beyond acceptable limits" in Scotland because of a funding shortfall which she said needed to be addressed.
  • Midlothian Council said it has reissued safety advice to schools after it emerged that a boy threatened a schoolgirl with a knife which had been handed back by a teacher.
  • The boy has been been referred to the Children's Reporter following the incident in December.