Council ‘unequivocally sorry’ for safeguarding failings

A senior council officer has admitted that his authority’s apology for its role in the death of two-year-old Keanu Williams ‘may ring hollow’.
Birmingham City Council’s acting strategic director for children, young people and families, Peter Hay, said the authority was ‘unequivocally sorry’ for failing to keep the child safe.

Speaking after today’s publication of a serious case review into Keanu’s death, Mr Hay said the report was a ‘further blight upon this city’s reputation’.

Mr Hay continued: ‘Critical, analytical and challenging social work lies at the heart of what we need as a city.

‘We do have some great social workers who do some amazing social work, but we do have neither enough staff nor consistency of practice.

‘Our track record over recent years is poor and we do not flinch today from acknowledging that a very different approach is needed.’