New Wirral Council leader takes charge of social services

New council leader Jeff Green has taken control of Wirral’s crisis-hit adult social services.

Councillor Green said he was keen to have a “hands-on” role in the department, which he acknowledged needed huge improvement.

Following the shock findings of an investigation by independent consultant Anna Klonowski, Cllr Green said adequate safeguarding measures to protect vulnerable people now urgently need to be put in place.

At the same time, the Local Government Association has set up an improvement board with the council to measure progress in adult social care in Wirral.

Councillor Green said the LGA involvement would be “for the long haul.”

He said he did not want them to pull out too soon, particularly before improvements had been made, as issues at the council “won’t be fixed overnight.”

The independent review, published last month, was ordered following issues raised by council whistle-blower Martin Morton. It alleged cases of violence and intimidation; overcharging of people with learning difficulties; failure to tackle issues raised by employees and staff too scared to speak out against management for fear of reprisal.

Now an “independent ombudsman” is expected to be put in place to allow council employees who feel concerns they raised in the past were ignored, to speak about any issues they have without reprisals.

Councillor Green said: “The LGA can get the very best people and show us what ‘good’ actually is.

“We want to work with staff here to get the best. We’ve already updated out whistle-blowing process as part of this.”

A Care Quality Commission report, published last week, identified failings at a Wallasey private care home for people with mental health needs.

During two unannounced inspections in recent months the regulator found areas of concern at the Kingsley House care home.

Councillor Green said: “I have asked the council’s director of adult social services (Graham Hodkinson) why it took an inspection by the CQC for these issues to be uncovered.

“Each person who has been placed there by the council will have had a care plan in place and each plan should have been frequently monitored. “If we find concerns were raised by social workers with senior council managers I will want to know why nothing was done.”

Councillor Green took over leadership of the authority last week when a vote of no confidence desposed Labour chief Cllr Steve Foulkes.