Government strips Slough council of children’s social services

Slough Borough Council (SBC) will be stripped of its children’s social services after independent report into failings was published yesterday.

The Government has confirmed it proposes to strip the council of its powers over children’s services and set up a trust to oversee improvements.

Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, Edward Timpson MP, confirmed the news following an independent review commissioned by the Dept for Education.

In a letter addressed to SBC leader Cllr Rob Anderson, Timpson said: “Serious concerns about the leadership, management and governance of both children’s services, and the corporate oversight of children’s services from the Council, are long-standing.

“I am still persuaded that putting services beyond the Council’s control is the right course and wholly proportionate to the problems identified.”

Responding to the report, chief executive of Slough Borough Council, Ruth Bagley, said: “We had made strong representations that a trust was not the swiftest and most effective approach to deliver improvements to children’s services and safeguard our children.

“We are now digesting the full implications for the council and will be preparing a response to the Minister in due course.”

To download the report, visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/329780/Slough_childrens_social_care_services_report_to_DfE.pdf