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| Children services inquiry ordered | Children services inquiry ordered |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| An independent inquiry will be launched into children's services at Doncaster Council, the BBC has learned. | An independent inquiry will be launched into children's services at Doncaster Council, the BBC has learned. |
| It comes after serious case reviews were ordered into the deaths of seven children in the area. | It comes after serious case reviews were ordered into the deaths of seven children in the area. |
| Children's Minister Beverley Hughes has written to Doncaster Council in recent days to express concern about the situation. | Children's Minister Beverley Hughes has written to Doncaster Council in recent days to express concern about the situation. |
| Doncaster's elected mayor Martin Winter said he was aware "inadequacies" existed in the department. | Doncaster's elected mayor Martin Winter said he was aware "inadequacies" existed in the department. |
| Last month Ofsted was highly critical of children's services there, rating them as among the worst in the country. | Last month Ofsted was highly critical of children's services there, rating them as among the worst in the country. |
| The Ofsted report said Doncaster Council's strategies for protecting children were inadequate. | The Ofsted report said Doncaster Council's strategies for protecting children were inadequate. |
| 'Missed opportunities' | |
| Ms Hughes' letter to the authority says: "It is crucial that the root causes of these failings are fully explored and that the capacity and capability of the Council and its key partners to drive improvement in these areas is fully assessed." | Ms Hughes' letter to the authority says: "It is crucial that the root causes of these failings are fully explored and that the capacity and capability of the Council and its key partners to drive improvement in these areas is fully assessed." |
| Of the seven deaths being examined in serious case reviews, two of the children were murdered by their fathers and four were less than one year old at the time of their deaths. | Of the seven deaths being examined in serious case reviews, two of the children were murdered by their fathers and four were less than one year old at the time of their deaths. |
| A serious case review is under way following the murder of Amy Howson | |
| The findings of three reviews have already been published - they involved children who were abused or neglected before they died. | The findings of three reviews have already been published - they involved children who were abused or neglected before they died. |
| In each case it was found social workers had missed opportunities to intervene and one review described the children's services department as chaotic and dangerous. | In each case it was found social workers had missed opportunities to intervene and one review described the children's services department as chaotic and dangerous. |
| Children's and families minister Lady Morgan said: "It's very important that whenever there is a serious incident, or the tragic death of any child, that a proper evaluation is made of what lessons could be learned. | Children's and families minister Lady Morgan said: "It's very important that whenever there is a serious incident, or the tragic death of any child, that a proper evaluation is made of what lessons could be learned. |
| "And that's what these serious case reviews are all about. And that's why when Ofsted found that these reports weren't being conducted to the highest standards, that's why we took action." | "And that's what these serious case reviews are all about. And that's why when Ofsted found that these reports weren't being conducted to the highest standards, that's why we took action." |
| Councillors have now called a special meeting to discuss the situation on Tuesday night. | Councillors have now called a special meeting to discuss the situation on Tuesday night. |
| 'Political football' | |
| Mr Winter said: "I'm disappointed to a certain extent that politicians are raising these issues in this way. | Mr Winter said: "I'm disappointed to a certain extent that politicians are raising these issues in this way. |
| "Children's services and the protecting and safeguarding of children is one of the most important things we do in Doncaster and they shouldn't become the centre of a political football." | "Children's services and the protecting and safeguarding of children is one of the most important things we do in Doncaster and they shouldn't become the centre of a political football." |
| However, Mr Winter said he was aware inadequacies existed. | However, Mr Winter said he was aware inadequacies existed. |
| "We're not in denial in Doncaster. Certainly we assessed our safeguarding agenda ourselves as inadequate and as soon as the issues were brought to my attention I took the appropriate action. | "We're not in denial in Doncaster. Certainly we assessed our safeguarding agenda ourselves as inadequate and as soon as the issues were brought to my attention I took the appropriate action. |
| "I made money available immediately and gave our director of children's services carte blanche to do whatever was required to making the safeguarding agenda a stronger one for our young people." | "I made money available immediately and gave our director of children's services carte blanche to do whatever was required to making the safeguarding agenda a stronger one for our young people." |