Aberdeen Social Work Slated By Inspectors

Staff morale in Aberdeen City Council was “very low”, and managers and councillors were not showing the strong leadership needed, said the Social Work Inspection Agency.

On a six-point scale, the best that the council achieved in two categories was “adequate”. It was classed “weak” on five others and and “unsatisfactory” in two – leadership and resources.

The critical findings came in a report published today by the agency. The findings come less than a week after another critical report on the council, carried out by the Accounts Commission.

The commission’s report warned the city had “extremely serious” problems with management, finances and services, and it called for an organisational overhaul.

Today’s report by the Social Work Inspection Agency pointed to “long-standing difficulties” in health and care services.

“Outcomes for people with learning disabilities receiving employment opportunities, young offenders, and in some areas for young people receiving care were positive,” said the report.

“However most other areas were weak.

“Staff morale was very low and staff did not feel part of the change processes that were in place.”

The report continued: “Managers and elected members had not demonstrated the strong leadership required to address these long-standing difficulties.”

While plans were in place to tackle these difficulties, it was too early to see evidence of the changes at the time the inspection took place.

The report found many staff were committed to providing good services, but had low morale and high caseloads, and were uncertain about a new pay structure and an equal pay review.

The council itself had “major weaknesses” in some areas, with councillors and senior managers slow to take ensure to match the level of services with the resources available.

The leadership and direction of health and care services was unsatisfactory, and also had major weaknesses.

Councillors were not always well-informed about the challenges facing services, staff morale was low, leadership was weak, and there was a “lack of clarity” about the role of chief social work officer.

And the council’s criminal justice social work services had not done enough, or acted quickly enough, to tackle weaknesses identified in an earlier SWIA inspection.

“It therefore remained vulnerable to falling into crisis once again,” said the report, which urged action as “a matter of urgency.”