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| Care rape case scapegoat warning | Care rape case scapegoat warning |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A union has warned a council not to look for "scapegoats" after the placement of a teenager who sexually abused his host family's children. | A union has warned a council not to look for "scapegoats" after the placement of a teenager who sexually abused his host family's children. |
| Unison said systemic failures within Vale of Glamorgan council were to blame after the 19-year-old man raped and sexually assaulted two young children. | Unison said systemic failures within Vale of Glamorgan council were to blame after the 19-year-old man raped and sexually assaulted two young children. |
| It emerged the teenager had a history of sexual behaviour involving children but the host family were not told. | It emerged the teenager had a history of sexual behaviour involving children but the host family were not told. |
| The council said everyone involved should accept responsibility. | |
| The teenager admitted raping the couple's toddler and sexually assaulting their daughter and was given an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment at Cardiff crown court in February. | |
| The inquiry, which was overseen by the NSPCC and published on Monday, found that the Leaving Care Team did not pass on information about his background, and described their actions as naive. | The inquiry, which was overseen by the NSPCC and published on Monday, found that the Leaving Care Team did not pass on information about his background, and described their actions as naive. |
| Director of Social Services Philip Evans subsequently said three members of the seven-strong Leaving Care Team had been suspended. These include "social workers and managers". | Director of Social Services Philip Evans subsequently said three members of the seven-strong Leaving Care Team had been suspended. These include "social workers and managers". |
| We will not allow our members to be scapegoated in this way Dawn Bowden, Unison | We will not allow our members to be scapegoated in this way Dawn Bowden, Unison |
| "Further disciplinary action will follow quickly now we have the inquiry report," said Mr Evans. | "Further disciplinary action will follow quickly now we have the inquiry report," said Mr Evans. |
| "Potentially the consequences to the staff are serious. | "Potentially the consequences to the staff are serious. |
| "As accountable professionals they are now open to external scrutiny by the Care Council for Wales and they can be removed from the register." | "As accountable professionals they are now open to external scrutiny by the Care Council for Wales and they can be removed from the register." |
| An independent serious case review, carried out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board and directed by Welsh Assembly guidance, is yet to report on the blunder. | An independent serious case review, carried out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board and directed by Welsh Assembly guidance, is yet to report on the blunder. |
| Unison called for the remit of that inquiry to be expanded to examine "systemic failures" they say existed over a number of years within the local authority's social services department. | Unison called for the remit of that inquiry to be expanded to examine "systemic failures" they say existed over a number of years within the local authority's social services department. |
| Dawn Bowden, the union's regional manager for Wales, said: "Unison brought to the attention of the council, over a number of years, systemic failures and the absence of Heads of Service direction, including, more recently, specific concerns in dealing with this case, but these warnings were ignored. | Dawn Bowden, the union's regional manager for Wales, said: "Unison brought to the attention of the council, over a number of years, systemic failures and the absence of Heads of Service direction, including, more recently, specific concerns in dealing with this case, but these warnings were ignored. |
| "The report published on Monday of this week leaves those issues unanswered. | "The report published on Monday of this week leaves those issues unanswered. |
| "It is not good enough to just look at the past three months immediately prior to the terrible event and we want the Local Safeguarding Children Board to examine the full history of the case." | "It is not good enough to just look at the past three months immediately prior to the terrible event and we want the Local Safeguarding Children Board to examine the full history of the case." |
| 'Systemic failures' | 'Systemic failures' |
| Ms Bowden said the statements issued by the council on Monday ignored the department's "failings" and merely sought to heap blame solely on the shoulders of social workers. | Ms Bowden said the statements issued by the council on Monday ignored the department's "failings" and merely sought to heap blame solely on the shoulders of social workers. |
| "Before any internal disciplinary processes have been completed, the Director of Social Services has pronounced our members guilty as charged," she said. | "Before any internal disciplinary processes have been completed, the Director of Social Services has pronounced our members guilty as charged," she said. |
| "This is completely against the principles of natural justice. | "This is completely against the principles of natural justice. |
| "We will not allow our members to be scapegoated in this way. | "We will not allow our members to be scapegoated in this way. |
| "Systemic failures must be brought out into the open and dealt with. | "Systemic failures must be brought out into the open and dealt with. |
| "If they are not, then members of the public and users cannot have full confidence that this could not happen again." | "If they are not, then members of the public and users cannot have full confidence that this could not happen again." |
| John Maitland Evans, chief executive for the council said: "We would appreciate a direct approach from Unison, so that we can hear from them the exact nature of their concerns and any evidence they may have. | |
| "Just as importantly, the council would welcome a constructive contribution to our response to the report and our action plan. | |
| "This is a time for everyone involved to accept the appropriate responsibility for what has happened and to take steps to avoid any similar tragedy in the future." | |
| On Monday the council issued an unreserved apology to the family of the young children who were abused. | On Monday the council issued an unreserved apology to the family of the young children who were abused. |