Social services move to combat ‘failings’ in Wirral

WIRRAL’S social services has revamped how it deals with some of its most vulnerable users after major failings were discovered during a routine check.

The department, which has been under pressure to improve since a damning report revealed a catalogue of failings last year, has again been told to tighten procedures for those people for whom it holds power of attorney.

At present, the department has the Court of Protection powers for 68 people who are deemed unable to make decisions for themselves.

But an internal audit report assessed the control of these powers as “poor” and made 13 high priority recommendations, including tightening procedures to improve “control over the clients’ bank accounts held and the payments made”.

The report, for the council’s audit and risk management committee, also said due to “a lack of any documented procedures or consistent way of working”, they cannot be sure the requirements of the Office of the Public Guardian – the government body who oversees such cases – are being met”.

A follow-up investigation is due to take place this month to ensure changes have been put in place.

The council says the problems were raised during a routine audit and no complaints had been made about the issue.

The revelation follows a difficult year for the authority, which included the highly critical Klonowski report into the social services department, a probe prompted by the whistleblowing of former employee Martin Morton.

External consultant Anna Klonowski’s report was damning and reached far beyond its original remit, criticising the council’s “corporate governance”.

Cllr Anne McArdle, Wirral’s cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “We have been working hard putting together and implementing a detailed plan to address all of the recommendations identified in this audit report and a number of steps have already been taken to strengthen procedures around how social services manage the responsibilities they have to these very vulnerable people.

“We are pleased that the audit report acknowledges this positive response to their findings and we are confident that when they carry out their follow-up assessment they will report significant progress made towards their recommendations.”