This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rotherham-council-not-fit-for-purpose-report-into-child-abuse-scandal-finds-10023299.html
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rotherham Council 'not fit for purpose', report into child abuse scandal finds | Rotherham Council 'not fit for purpose', report into child abuse scandal finds |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rotherham Council is "not fit for purpose", a Government-commissioned report into the authority following the child sexual exploitation scandal has concluded. | Rotherham Council is "not fit for purpose", a Government-commissioned report into the authority following the child sexual exploitation scandal has concluded. |
| Louise Casey's report into the authority found an "unhealthy" culture of bullying, sexism and misplaced "political correctness". | Louise Casey's report into the authority found an "unhealthy" culture of bullying, sexism and misplaced "political correctness". |
| She described the council as "incapable of tackling its weaknesses, without a sustained intervention." | She described the council as "incapable of tackling its weaknesses, without a sustained intervention." |
| Ms Casey was asked by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to inspect the council in the wake of the Jay Report last year which found more than 1,400 children had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking in the South Yorkshire town between 1997 and 2013. | Ms Casey was asked by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to inspect the council in the wake of the Jay Report last year which found more than 1,400 children had been subjected to rape, violence and trafficking in the South Yorkshire town between 1997 and 2013. |
| Today, in her inspection report, Ms Casey said: "This inspection revealed past and present failures to accept, understand and combat the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE), resulting in a lack of support for victims and insufficient action against known perpetrators. | Today, in her inspection report, Ms Casey said: "This inspection revealed past and present failures to accept, understand and combat the issue of child sexual exploitation (CSE), resulting in a lack of support for victims and insufficient action against known perpetrators. |
| Ms Casey was asked by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to inspect the council in the wake of the Jay Report last year (Getty) | |
| "The council's culture is unhealthy: bullying, sexism, suppression and misplaced 'political correctness' have cemented its failures. The council is currently incapable of tackling its weaknesses, without a sustained intervention." | "The council's culture is unhealthy: bullying, sexism, suppression and misplaced 'political correctness' have cemented its failures. The council is currently incapable of tackling its weaknesses, without a sustained intervention." |
| The report said: "Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is not fit for purpose. | |
| "It is failing in its legal obligation to secure continuous improvement in the way in which it exercises its functions. In particular, it is failing in its duties to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm." | |
| Ms Casey said the council "demonstrates a resolute denial of what has happened in the borough". | |
| She said her inspection team found "a council in denial about serious and on-going safeguarding failures" and "an archaic culture of sexism, bullying and discomfort around race". | |
| She said it had failed to address past weaknesses in children's care and had "ineffective leadership and management, including political leadership". | |
| The report highlighted "a culture of covering up uncomfortable truths, silencing whistle-blowers and paying off staff rather than dealing with difficult issues." | |
| It said: "RMBC goes to some length to cover up information and to silence whistle-blowers." | |
| Ms Casey also endorsed the findings of Professor Alexis Jay's report which caused huge controversy when it was published in August last year. | |
| Ms Casey, who is director-general for troubled families at the Communities Department, was also tasked with looking at all aspects of how the council liaises with other organisations, including the police. | |
| Mr Pickles is due to make a statement to the Commons later. | Mr Pickles is due to make a statement to the Commons later. |
| Additional reporting by PA | Additional reporting by PA |