Council’s Social Work Department Under The Spotlight Again

Midlothian Council’s under-fire social work department is to come under the microscope again. The division, which came in for criticism earlier this year in an HMIe child protection inspection, is to undergo two major inspections in the next nine months.

When the damning HMIe report was published, director Malcolm McEwan resigned and Councillor Danny Molloy stood down as social work convenor. Since then, the council has pumped money into the department to improve staffing levels, policy procedures and working conditions.

Last week cabinet members were advised that a re-inspection of child protection services will be carried out by HMIe on December 10. The Social Work Inspection Agency will also inspect all social work functions in April 2008.