By Gavin Mackintosh-
Sandwell children’s services will be transferred to an independent children’s trust and taken out of local authority control.
Children’s minister Edward Timpson explained the purpose of government intervention to Sandwell’s leaders, explaining that the council had “failed its most vulnerable children and young people for approaching seven years”.
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He said the trust should be established by the end of 2017 and acknowledged that the move would trigger some anxiety “among key groups in Sandwell, notably your social workers”.
“However, given your commitment to work constructively with me and my officials, I am optimistic that some reassurance can be provided quite quickly on a number of points related to trusts, including – for instance – the terms and conditions on which social workers transfer to a trust,” he added.
REVIEW
The move follows a review of the council’s children’s services by Eleanor Brazil, the government appointed as commissioner in Sandwell following concerns over performance. In a damning blow to the council, Brazil said “the council on its own cannot deliver what is needed” and recommended removing the services from local authority control.”
“I believe that a period of time is needed when the service is not in the direct control of the council to create the impetus needed to deliver robust and sustainable leadership.
“However, this should be achieved working closely with the council,” Brazil said.
The report found “the strengths of good social work practice are poorly understood and until very recently have not received sufficient attention”.
“Whilst there has been some progress over the past two years, it has not been fast enough nor has it had the impact on the quality of practice needed. Too many children are still in receipt of an inadequate service,” Brazil said.
Industrial action
In February, social workers at the branch voted unanimously for a motion calling for a ballot for industrial action if children’s services were moved to a trust. The local unison branch indicated that if it did not receive ‘‘urgent guarantees” on pay and pensions, a strike would automatically follow.
Branch secretary, Tony Timpson told the eye of media. com “Creating uncertainty over the future pay and pensions of our members does nothing to improve the service to children in any way. On the contrary, it worsens matters since some will vote with their feet and leave Sandwell”. He promised full support for those members who opt for strike action
“If our members to choose to take strike action they will receive our fullest support.”
Brazil’s report acknowledged the concerns raised by staff, but said it was “not clear what resulted from those discussions, or what if any, active steps were taken by the unions to positively impact on the quality of the service”.
The fact the council are believed to have failed it’s most vulnerable children are a big shame to Sandwell services, which ought to have the interest of children highest in all their endeavours. However, the conclusion following a lengthy review is that vulnerable children have been badly let down in such a manner that calls for urgent government intervention
Timpsn said he hoped the transfer of services offered an opportunity to demonstrate the benefits to social workers of making a fresh start.
“I am sure that a new vision for children’s social care, the opportunity to work with excellent leaders and the very real prospect that – in time – your children’s social care services could be Good or we hope even better can be attractive to many people in Sandwell, including the council’s partners and social workers,” he said.
Plans for the trust need to be brought forward by the council from December 1.
The government has appointed Malcolm Newsam, to work with the council to establish the trust and continue with improvements during the interim period. Social workers and council members opposed to the move are considering their options, but it seems very unlikely there is even room for appeals of any kind. Vulnerable children are central to the work of social workers in the children’s department, and many social workers do their best to produce the best results for children. However, carelessness and errors that happen are rarely taken lightly , the judgement on this occasion being that social services have seriously fallen below acceptable standards in the children’s services.