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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/04/serious-failures-lead-ministers-to-take-control-of-croydon-child-services
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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Government takes over Croydon child services after 'serious failures' | Government takes over Croydon child services after 'serious failures' |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| Weak management and overworked staff among the widespread shortcomings revealed in Ofsted report | |
| Press Association | |
| Mon 4 Sep 2017 22.50 BST | |
| Last modified on Fri 15 Sep 2017 20.16 BST | |
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| The government has taken control of Croydon’s children’s services after an Ofsted report revealed “widespread and serious” failures were leaving youngsters at risk. | The government has taken control of Croydon’s children’s services after an Ofsted report revealed “widespread and serious” failures were leaving youngsters at risk. |
| It blamed weak management at all levels of the south London borough for failing to ensure social workers followed protocols for missing children and those at risk of sexual abuse. Too few young people who ran away were spoken to by a social worker when they were found, inspectors reported, so the council had little data on the other risks they might be facing. | It blamed weak management at all levels of the south London borough for failing to ensure social workers followed protocols for missing children and those at risk of sexual abuse. Too few young people who ran away were spoken to by a social worker when they were found, inspectors reported, so the council had little data on the other risks they might be facing. |
| Children were also forced to wait for unacceptable periods of time for help, the report said, leaving them at risk of greater harm. | Children were also forced to wait for unacceptable periods of time for help, the report said, leaving them at risk of greater harm. |
| Inspectors also found many social workers were saddled with unsustainable caseloads, meaning they were unable to give enough time to each child and leading to high staff turnover. Foster carers also complained they were not being properly supported by the local authority and that fostering was not being properly regulated. | Inspectors also found many social workers were saddled with unsustainable caseloads, meaning they were unable to give enough time to each child and leading to high staff turnover. Foster carers also complained they were not being properly supported by the local authority and that fostering was not being properly regulated. |
| The report said: “When circumstances for some children do not improve, the local authority is either too slow to take action or reduces the level of support without evidence of demonstrable progress. This means that some children remain in harmful situations for too long. | The report said: “When circumstances for some children do not improve, the local authority is either too slow to take action or reduces the level of support without evidence of demonstrable progress. This means that some children remain in harmful situations for too long. |
| “Too many children wait too long for a decision to be made as to whether they need to be looked after, or they return home without sufficient support. This has left them at risk of significant harm from neglectful parenting.” | “Too many children wait too long for a decision to be made as to whether they need to be looked after, or they return home without sufficient support. This has left them at risk of significant harm from neglectful parenting.” |
| The government has appointed Eleanor Brazil – who worked with Haringey council following the Baby P scandal – to improve children’s services in the borough. | The government has appointed Eleanor Brazil – who worked with Haringey council following the Baby P scandal – to improve children’s services in the borough. |
| Robert Goodwill, minister for children and families, said: “Keeping children safe is vital, and we take tough measures when councils are failing them. | Robert Goodwill, minister for children and families, said: “Keeping children safe is vital, and we take tough measures when councils are failing them. |
| “We have appointed a commissioner in Croydon to conduct a three-month review before we determine the best next steps to ensure improvements are made for vulnerable children and families.” | “We have appointed a commissioner in Croydon to conduct a three-month review before we determine the best next steps to ensure improvements are made for vulnerable children and families.” |
| Barbara Peacock, executive director of people at Croydon council, said: “We accept the findings of this report and are committed to making sure that we provide better support for our children and young people. I’m sorry that our services have not been good enough.” | Barbara Peacock, executive director of people at Croydon council, said: “We accept the findings of this report and are committed to making sure that we provide better support for our children and young people. I’m sorry that our services have not been good enough.” |
| Croydon said it has set up an action plan and an improvement team, along with an improvement board with an independent chair to oversee changes. | Croydon said it has set up an action plan and an improvement team, along with an improvement board with an independent chair to oversee changes. |
| It has also launched a recruitment drive to boost staff numbers, as well as offering improved IT equipment and smartphones to all social workers. | It has also launched a recruitment drive to boost staff numbers, as well as offering improved IT equipment and smartphones to all social workers. |
| As of June, Croydon had 1,789 children identified as being in need of specialist children’s services, down from 1,839 the previous year. | As of June, Croydon had 1,789 children identified as being in need of specialist children’s services, down from 1,839 the previous year. |
| It had 399 children and young people subject to a child protection plan, up from 360 on 2016, while 760 children were being looked after by the local authority. | It had 399 children and young people subject to a child protection plan, up from 360 on 2016, while 760 children were being looked after by the local authority. |
| It also had 364 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children out of a total of 485 in care. | It also had 364 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children out of a total of 485 in care. |
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