Birmingham social services report: MP calls care bosses to account

Oct 6 2009 By Paul Dale

THE bosses of Birmingham’s damned social services department were today challenged to consider their positions by an angry MP.

Khalid Mahmood threw down the gauntlet to Tony Howell, the strategic director for children, young people and families, and Tory cabinet member Les Lawrence.

He said the extent of failure highlighted by an investigation into the department was so great that Mr Howell and Coun Lawrence, should consider whether they were the right people to do the job.

The investigation was ordered following the deaths recently of eight children known to Birmingham social services – events which forced the Government to place the department in special measures and order the council to improve.

But yesterday Mr Howell, said there was “no reason” for him to quit his £120,000-a-year post even though the Clark report found “unacceptable practices by social workers, poor management, no long term strategy, inadequate case files on children at risk, outdated computer systems and a service unfit for purpose”.

Mr Howell, who described the eight deaths as a “relatively very small number of children” given Birmingham’s size, added: “We have brought in new leadership and we have the processes in place to improve.”

And Coun Lawrence, cabinet member for children, young People and families, said he would not be going anywhere.

“I have a job to do, I have a notice to improve and I have recommendations to implement.

“It is interesting that Mr Mahmood suddenly appears now.

“He has been given numerous opportunities to participate in briefings. I have written to him on a number of occasions, but he has never acknowledged the letters.

“He is only interested in his personal political gain,” he claimed. “If he really cared about the children in his constituency and the city he would be participating like all of the other MPs in working to bring about the improvements that are needed.

“The offer is still open to him and if he does care he can come and receive a briefing.”