Chief social worker quits before crucial inspection

The chief social worker at a council with one of the worst child protection records in Scotland has quit her post weeks before a crucial follow-up inspection, it emerged last night.

Aberdeen City Council approved Sandra Power’s request for early retirement late last month, even though she was heavily involved in ensuring 23 recommendations for improvements to social work services were made.

The Social Work Inspection Agency (SWIA), which said in a damning report last May it was not confident children at risk were being adequately supported, is returning to the city on Monday.

A spokeswoman for the agency, which is behind the recommendations, said inspectors expected to interview the chief social work officer alongside other managers and staff as part of the follow-up inspection.

Social work spokesman Gordon Leslie admitted last night he was “very surprised” that Ms Power, who was hired in 2006 and left about a week ago, had quit during a “critical” time for the social work department.

“All I have been told is Sandra Power took early retirement,” said the Liberal Democrat councillor.

“Hopefully, after this inspection report, we can look to the future. Things can only get better.”

The social work department, which was criticised in a second report drafted by HM Inspectorate of Education, says it is making good progress in implementing SWIA’s 23 recommendations.

But opposition Labour councillors say they are “suspicious” about the timing of Ms Power’s departure.

They are angry they were not told and fear the move may be to ensure she is not interviewed by inspectors.

Labour group secretary Willie Young has raised the issue with council chief executive Sue Bruce.

He is concerned that the council has been left without a chief social worker, a statutory post.

In a letter, Mr Young said: “We find this development staggering considering that SWIA is about to carry out a further inspection of this council.

“This matter is clearly a huge concern to us, given the seriousness of child protection and other social work concerns.”

Council leader Kate Dean said she was not prepared to discuss the reasons for Ms Power’s departure.

“The council has a voluntary severance and early-retirement policy which is available to all staff to apply for,” she said.

Mrs Dean said the department, headed by interim director Philip Cotterill, had sufficient staff cover to ensure the council was fulfilling its legal obligations.

A council spokesman said: “The chief social work officer applied for early retirement under the council’s early-retirement and voluntary-severance scheme and was approved.

“This was within the context of the ongoing restructuring of the service and the council as a whole.

“As a result, there are many people who made successful applications for these voluntary packages.”

The spokesman said Ms Power’s departure would have no bearing on improvements being made to the service.

“The implementation of the SWIA recommendations were part of a much wider implementation programme led by Philip Cotterill and has been ongoing since the SWIA report was published,” said the spokesman.

“The implementation programme involves a large number of staff at all levels and this process is ongoing.”

A new chief social worker will not be hired until a permanent department director is in place.

Candidates are expected to be interviewed at the beginning of next month.