Children’s chief apologises ‘unreservedly’ for failures exposed in report

The chief of children’s services has apologised “unreservedly” for failures exposed in a child protection review.

However, councillor Lorna Reith, who has been cabinet member for children since December 2008, believes many improvements have been made to the service since the time the report covers.

Cllr Reith, who is also deputy leader of the council, said: “This review covers a period when there were serious shortcomings in our children’s safeguarding services, and we apologise unreservedly for the past failures identified in this case.

“We have been working hard to ensure sustained improvement in our services for vulnerable children and have received a number of positive reports over the last two years.”

The damning report, which was released by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board on Friday, revealed children from one anonymous family were living in “appalling” conditions and suffering from “chronic neglect.”

Social services had been aware of the children for seven years, but they were not taken into police protection until April 2009.

Despite the failings exposed in the report, cllr Reith is adamant that her decision to step down from office is for personal reasons, and not related to the findings.

She announced on Tuesday she will not stand for the position again in the annual general meeting (AGM) next week, and insists she is “proud” of what she has achieved during her time in office.

Child protection services were taken out of special measures by the Government in February, which cllr Reith believes is a testament to the improvements made in the service.

She added: “The key lessons for learning raised by the report have already been addressed by our children’s services and the report makes specific reference to the transformation of the culture of the service, which we welcome.”

She said children’s service supported the review taking place because they wanted to be at the “forefront” of the learning process to provide the “very best safeguarding services.”