Today’s revelation that 40 members of staff at Swansea’s beleaguered social services department have been subject to disciplinary action in the last two years - including 14 dismissals - is hardly encouraging news for anyone expecting rapid improvements in performance or even a degree of transparency if the mealy-mouthed response from an official spokesman is any indication.
Despite the manangement-babble contained in the council's official response, the quoted figure is significantly above that of neighbouring local authorities which in itself should be grounds for concern. But an added dimension that strongly suggests better scrutiny is needed comes in claims made over the weekend by a whistle-blowing former councillor that some senior department staff have either been paid or pensioned off in a restructuring action aimed at avoiding ‘complications’.
What is patently missing from the published story is an assurance or even a concerned comment from anyone in the council’s political ‘fraternity’ who – we are told – are now supposed to be taking a keener interest than ever in how social care is delivered in the city. Then again, were they asked? Let us hope that they were not as it would be a serious misjudgement for any politician to think that the public will accept a situation whereby exercising a representative role takes second place to corporate responsibilities and which voters would perceive as little more than complicity.
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