Having put considerable effort into maintaining a low media profile for today’s publication of three serious case reviews, Swansea Council spinners must be dismayed that Birmingham City Council chose the same day to announce the sacking of six social workers for not doing their jobs properly and showing "no sign whatsoever" of adhering to expected standards.
Meanwhile, there is a growing awareness and disquiet among Swansea councillors about significant differences in emphasis between the internal briefing they were given last night and some details which appear in the subsequently published case reviews into the unrelated deaths of three youngsters who had all been identified as vulnerable.
A lengthy press release issued by the Board carries an apology from Social Services director Chris Maggs on behalf of the agencies involved along with assurances that lessons have been learned and that all recommendations have been accepted if not implemented.
One case review states it found that
...over several years, the social work staff in Swansea Social Services Department and their immediate managers failed to apply the law, appropriate procedures or any elementary standards of professional practice in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. The failings extended to poor administration and to meeting basic recording requirements.
The official press release makes no mention of disciplinary action.
Links
Swansea Safeguarding Children Board - Serious Case Reviews
Swansea Council - Internal Briefing
3 Comments:
I am impressed by the accuracy of your predictions made in your post Subterfuge@Swansea (10 March).
You were right about filleted briefings and I can tell you that an embargoed press release went out early this morning in advance of the SCR publication. I can also tell you that what was published was very different from the earlier draft versions. Names and key facts were removed in all three reports.
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You are also correct in your view that the reports were combined to minimise impact. One report has been available since January 2009 but the contents were considered too damaging for publication and was deliberately held back. Even then, it was edited a number of times to remove certain phrases which relected very badly on social services.
"Subterfuge" is right and at a very high level too.
Note: the comment by Oracle was moderated to remove reference to individuals.
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Believe it or not, we take little satisfaction in the accuracy of ourpredictions. Swansea Council have spun the situation and even managed to implicate other agencies by apologising on their behalf. The only surprising thing is that the media allow them to continue to get away with it.
quite right to concentrate on matters swansea , but lets not forget alot of tis happened whilst the inspectors were lauding these services as the best in wales
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