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Birmingham branded 'national disgrace' for child protection failures Birmingham branded 'national disgrace' for child protection failures
(35 minutes later)
Vulnerable children are being let down by councils with ineffective and incompetent leadership, according to the Ofsted chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, who singled out Birmingham as a "national disgrace". Vulnerable children are being let down by councils with ineffective and incompetent leadership, according to the Ofsted chief inspector, who singled out Birmingham as a "national disgrace".
His scathing comments came as Ofsted revealed in its first annual report into children's social care that 20 of England's 152 local authorities – one in seven – were "inadequate", with the standard of child protection branded unacceptably poor. Sir Michael Wilshaw's scathing comments came as Ofsted revealed in its first annual report into children's social care that 20 of England's 152 local authorities – one in seven – were "inadequate", with an "unacceptably poor" standard of child protection.
Only one in four local authorities was good at safeguarding children, the report concluded, and only 3% of children's services departments were rated as outstanding. Only one in four local authorities was good at safeguarding children, the report found, and only 3% of children's services departments were rated outstanding.
Wilshaw singled out Birmingham, saying it was a "national disgrace" that the city had incurred seven failed social services inspection judgments in recent years. "What is shocking is that this is the city council with responsibility for more children than any other [in the UK]."Wilshaw singled out Birmingham, saying it was a "national disgrace" that the city had incurred seven failed social services inspection judgments in recent years. "What is shocking is that this is the city council with responsibility for more children than any other [in the UK]."
Over the past seven years there have been 23 serious case reviews after children in Birmingham were killed or seriously harmed. The most recent, published this month, revealed that professionals missed a string of chances to step in and save two-year-old Keanu Williams, who was murdered by his mother, Rebecca Shuttleworth.Over the past seven years there have been 23 serious case reviews after children in Birmingham were killed or seriously harmed. The most recent, published this month, revealed that professionals missed a string of chances to step in and save two-year-old Keanu Williams, who was murdered by his mother, Rebecca Shuttleworth.
Wilshaw said: "Why is it that nearly a third of children in the city live in households on low incomes? Why is it that infant mortality is almost twice the national average, worse than in Cuba and on a par with Latvia and Chile?Wilshaw said: "Why is it that nearly a third of children in the city live in households on low incomes? Why is it that infant mortality is almost twice the national average, worse than in Cuba and on a par with Latvia and Chile?
"As somebody said about the banks not so long ago, if they are too big to fail, they are too big. The same could be said about this council. If better governance means breaking it up so that children are better protected, then that's what needs to happen.""As somebody said about the banks not so long ago, if they are too big to fail, they are too big. The same could be said about this council. If better governance means breaking it up so that children are better protected, then that's what needs to happen."
The government has said action will be taken if improvements are not made and Edward Timpson, the minister for children and families, has told the city it has one final chance to get things right.The government has said action will be taken if improvements are not made and Edward Timpson, the minister for children and families, has told the city it has one final chance to get things right.
In a hard-hitting speech to children's services directors in London on Tuesday, Wilshaw called for social services departments to take "firm, authoritative action" with struggling parents, while social workers should show "tough love" towards violent or drug-addicted parents who fail to care properly for their children. Too many children suffered because social workers spent too much time "pussyfooting" around dysfunctional families and failing to act decisively to prevent abuse or neglect, he said. In a hard-hitting speech to children's services directors in London on Tuesday, Wilshaw called for social services departments to take "firm, authoritative action" with struggling parents, while social workers should show "tough love" towards violent or drug-addicted parents who fail to care properly for their children.
Despite a decade of child protection reforms, drawn up after a series of high-profile tragedies, inspectors found too many social services departments were still "manifestly weak" and unstable, suffering from a high turnover of managers – one in three English councils changed their director of children's services in 2012-13. Local safeguarding boards too often failed to hold poor councils to account. Too many children suffered because social workers spent too much time "pussyfooting" around dysfunctional families and failing to act decisively to prevent abuse or neglect, he said.
Despite a decade of child protection reforms, drawn up after a series of high-profile tragedies, inspectors found too many social services departments were still "manifestly weak" and unstable, suffering from a high turnover of managers – a third of English councils changed their director of children's services in 2012-13. Local safeguarding boards too often failed to hold poor councils to account.
Wilshaw warned that inspectors would not relax what he called a rigorous and robust inspection regime. "To those who say we should ease up, my response is clear: 'Whose side are you on?' Because there is only one side that matters – that is the side of children who need protection and support."Wilshaw warned that inspectors would not relax what he called a rigorous and robust inspection regime. "To those who say we should ease up, my response is clear: 'Whose side are you on?' Because there is only one side that matters – that is the side of children who need protection and support."
The crackdown should extend to the private sector, he said. He called on the government to modify the law to enable Ofsted not just to inspect the quality of care at the increasing number of privately run children's homes but also their corporate capacity, leadership, and fitness to practice. "It's important that there is clarity of accountability and consistency of practice across these chains."The crackdown should extend to the private sector, he said. He called on the government to modify the law to enable Ofsted not just to inspect the quality of care at the increasing number of privately run children's homes but also their corporate capacity, leadership, and fitness to practice. "It's important that there is clarity of accountability and consistency of practice across these chains."
A Department for Education spokesperson said of children's home inspections: "We have had constructive discussions with Ofsted and will make an announcement on progress shortly."A Department for Education spokesperson said of children's home inspections: "We have had constructive discussions with Ofsted and will make an announcement on progress shortly."
Wilshaw warned that the government would consider stepping in to take over council services that failed to improve. "Let me be clear … I am not content to preside over an inspection system that does not take action in places that cannot keep our children safe."Wilshaw warned that the government would consider stepping in to take over council services that failed to improve. "Let me be clear … I am not content to preside over an inspection system that does not take action in places that cannot keep our children safe."
But Andrew Webb, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, said Ofsted's inspection methods were "not good enough" to measure the performance of councils properly. He told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "Ofsted has painted a picture using language which is, frankly, unhelpful. They claim they can judge in a single word whether a local authority is inadequate, requires improvement or good. But Andrew Webb, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, said Ofsted's inspection methods were "not good enough" to measure the performance of councils properly.
He told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "Ofsted has painted a picture using language which is, frankly, unhelpful. They claim they can judge in a single word whether a local authority is inadequate, requires improvement or good.
"What they are talking about is really complex systems, and in any complex system dealing with human beings there is bound to be variation. I think their methodology is seriously wanting. The methodology they use is not good enough for them to be able to say, in a single word, 'this is an inadequate authority'.""What they are talking about is really complex systems, and in any complex system dealing with human beings there is bound to be variation. I think their methodology is seriously wanting. The methodology they use is not good enough for them to be able to say, in a single word, 'this is an inadequate authority'."
A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "Ofsted's report is helpful, and when their more rigorous inspection regime identifies that councils are failing to protect children we are taking action. There is no quick fix and we must be assured any progress is embedded and sustained – effective management is vitally important."A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: "Ofsted's report is helpful, and when their more rigorous inspection regime identifies that councils are failing to protect children we are taking action. There is no quick fix and we must be assured any progress is embedded and sustained – effective management is vitally important."
Wilshaw paid tribute to social care professionals who he accepted were operating under intense pressure, juggling increasing workloads while coming under fierce media and public scrutiny. "The unintended consequence of a highly pressured social care environment and the narrowness of the national debate is that those who work in social care often feel profoundly undervalued. This should not be the case. Their work is indispensable."Wilshaw paid tribute to social care professionals who he accepted were operating under intense pressure, juggling increasing workloads while coming under fierce media and public scrutiny. "The unintended consequence of a highly pressured social care environment and the narrowness of the national debate is that those who work in social care often feel profoundly undervalued. This should not be the case. Their work is indispensable."
The average career of a children's social worker was eight years, he said, and one in 11 quits the job each year. One in six were aged over 55 and were likely to retire in the next few years, triggering a "demographic time bomb" for the sector.The average career of a children's social worker was eight years, he said, and one in 11 quits the job each year. One in six were aged over 55 and were likely to retire in the next few years, triggering a "demographic time bomb" for the sector.
The annual report said many councils were struggling to deal with increasing demand for children's social care services at a time when their budgets were being cut by almost a third. Between 2008 – the year in which the Baby P controversy erupted – and 2012, the number of in-depth assessments of children at risk more than doubled to 220,670. The number of children on child protection plans rose from 29,200 to 42,850. Numbers of children in care rose from 59,500 at the end of 2008 to 67,050 in 2012, at an additional cost of £173m.The annual report said many councils were struggling to deal with increasing demand for children's social care services at a time when their budgets were being cut by almost a third. Between 2008 – the year in which the Baby P controversy erupted – and 2012, the number of in-depth assessments of children at risk more than doubled to 220,670. The number of children on child protection plans rose from 29,200 to 42,850. Numbers of children in care rose from 59,500 at the end of 2008 to 67,050 in 2012, at an additional cost of £173m.
It estimated that 700,000 children in England lived with a parent or carer who was alcohol dependent, that 100,000 youngsters had parents receiving treatment for hard drug addition, and 130,000 children lived in homes where there was domestic violence. It estimated that 700,000 children in England lived with a parent or carer who was alcohol dependent, that 100,000 youngsters had parents receiving treatment for hard drug addiction, and 130,000 children lived in homes where there was domestic violence.
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