'Operation of children's services not up to me'
THE councillor in charge of children's services in Calderdale has denied he has control over the day-to-day running of the failing department.
Guidelines dictate someone in the post held by Coun Craig Whittaker, the portfolio holder for Calderdale Council's children's services, should provide "a clear and unambiguous top line of accountability for children's wellbeing."
Ofsted inspectors last week described Calderdale Council's safeguarding procedures as inadequate.
But Coun Whittaker (Con, Rastrick), a Conservative candidate for the Calder Valley in the next General Election, told press this week that while he was the man in charge of strategy, he had no control over day-to-day running of the department.
The guidelines state that Coun Whittaker's role and that of the director of children's services were the focus of statutory responsibilities for children's services.
Council leaders – in this case Stephen Baines and chief executive Owen Williams – also have responsibilities in that area.
Labour Parliamentary candidate Steph Booth said the Ofsted inspection revealed poor casework practice, failures to respond to child protection, a drift in the implementation of plans, children being left at risk of harm over many years and unallocated work.
Liberal Democrat group leader Janet Battye (Calder) said the overall effectiveness of safeguarding services had steadily declined from good in 2007 to inadequate in 2010, adding: "Over that same period the money being spent on those services has increased, with over 3 million extra being put in."
Councillor Whittaker said: "I am not responsible for the day-to-day running of services.
“We employ highly paid officers to do that. My role is overall policy and strategy."
He also said he was responsible for commissioning the PricewaterhouseCoopers investigation that confirmed widespread concerns about safeguarding procedures.
"The people who have the opportunity to scrutinise the service are the members of the children's scrutiny panel, not me as the lead member."
Ofsted ranked nine out of 15 key safeguarding issues as inadequate but only two out of 18 relating to children in council care.
The safeguarding records of 420 young people are being scrutinised to ensure they remain safe.
The consultants were brought in following a review of the circumstances surrounding the neglect of a six-week-old girl in Hebden Bridge last year, which went unchecked by care workers.
The baby, Child H, was left blind and disabled by her abusers, Rizwan Patel and Alliah Bradshaw, who were jailed for three years.
Last year, the council also apologised for serious systematic failings uncovered after the deaths of two babies in 2007.
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