Before she lost her place on the IW Council Deborah Gardiner had been tenaciously tackling Childrens Services regarding local provision for the safeguarding of children after Ofsted referred to 'fundamental failings in child protection' after a serious case review. At every turn Deborah seemed to be blocked until eventually she got a private session of the Scrutiny Committee in May to hold the then Cabinet member to account. Of course he has now gone too.
What was interesting was that the Childrens Champion on the last Council, Cllr George Cameron, did not attend ANY of the Scrutiny Committee meetings in March, April and May which discussed safeguarding children. And this Cameron has just been appointed as Chair of the Scrutiny Panel for.......you guessed it, Childrens Services.
So we now have an interim Assistant Childrens Services Director (Safeguarding), also named Cameron, who the County Press reported 'was for ten years the boss of a social services department heavily criticised in a report issued just months after she left' and which 'went into special measures the following month, for two years.' And a councillor responsible for scrutinising the safeguarding of children who has shown no public interest in such matters when there were real concerns.
I don't know about you, but I have this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach........
9 comments:
Yes, Geoff. I have it too.
Me too. With recent disasters in this area still fresh in the mind, IWC seem far to relaxed on the subject.
George Cameron is a nice bloke, but certainly not the best man for this job. In my opinion of course.
Yes Geoff
I also have serious concerns about the future for children of all ages, on the Island. There is very little for them to do, very few places for them to go and with the summer holidays coming up I fear that there will be more young people entering the criminal justice system unjustly.
As you know I have attended several youth council meetings and only once have I seen George Cameron there.
Unless the issues surrounding young people are addressed and addressed soon we will have yet another generation of disaffected people.
I know George Cameron and he is a good guy and deeply concerned with the welfare of children. Do you not think that he had direct access to the Cabinet Member who would have kept him up to date on developments?
While it is easy to throw around accusations its a pity all the do gooders don't place blame where it belongs - With the PARENTS.
I have no doubt that George Cameron is a nice guy and cares about kids but it takes more than just being a nice caring person it takes action and that is what's missing. The blame doesn't solely rest with parents. The Council, Schools, Goverment and Society in general all bear some responsibility. The kids are our future and will be the carers of those of us in our middle ages when we reach old age. If we don't show them some consideration now why should they show us consideraration when we are old and need them?
The pressure on young people is far greater now than it was when I was a kid, there was also more hope around. You talk to youngsters now and there isn't a great deal of optimism going round.
There needs to be more thought for the future and the kids are very much a part of the future.
Being a "good guy" is one thing, actually doing something proactive to try to ensure that children are properly protected is another entirely.
The point of scrutiny (and of an effective Children's Champion who was after all paid to do that job) is not to simply be kept informed of developments by the Cabinet Member, and unfortunately in this instance the then Cabinet Member was not terribly well informed either. He hadn't read papers, hadn't asked important questions, couldn't answer important questions and colluded in the blocking of a proper scrutiny enquiry.
The lack of interest shown by most Councillors (with a few notable exceptions, Geoff included) was deplorable - but when the "Children's Champion" shows no interest and no ability to question or challenge when the words "fundamental failings in child protection" are used, it gives me no confidence at all. In fact I find it quite terrifying.
Deborah Gardiner
While it is easy to condem councillors surely its the staff who have failed? Which staff member missed the signs? which staff member did not raise their concerns? Lets have the answers to those questions before blaming councillors. Of course the head of the department has overall responsibility but a staff member got it wrong??
Councillors are democratically accountable, Councillors set budgets and certainly set the culture of the place. If staff or policies are failing, Councillors should have the commitment and brains to spot where the fault lines are, they should be able to ask questions and not be blinded by officer-speak. They should offer accountability and remedy, not invisibility or inability.
To pick up the last point, with which I agree, Councillors should also ensure that, vital though this post is, they are not throwing money into the personal bank account of the officer responsible for overseeing it. The salary that Ms Cameron is to receive is lunatic. In two weeks, she will earn more than one lower-rate benefit claimant can pick up in one year. And there are quite a lot of the latter on the Island, through, in the great majority of cases, no fault of their own.
It's hard to believe that an officer on such a salary can have any real conception of life as her clients will have to live it.
Post a Comment