Children's services 'too weak for too long'

The reviewer considered taking Tameside's children's services out of council control

A council has been ordered to improve its failing children's services department after it was described in a review as "too weak for too long".

Services in Tameside, Greater Manchester, have twice been rated inadequate by Oftsed since 2016, leading to a review by government-appointed commissioner Andy Couldrick.

Finding Tameside Council was "quick to blame" others for widespread failings, Mr Couldrick recommended another local authority be drafted in to offer support, as well as having a commissioner overseeing the department for three years.

Council leader Gerald Cooney said the council accepted improvements were needed and apologised to families who had not received "the quality support they need and deserve".

It has been ordered by the Department for Education to comply with the report's recommendations.

Mr Cooney said Tameside Council was taking steps to address highlighted issues.

Gorton and Denton MP Andrew Gwynne, who previously called for the services to be taken out of council control, said the report "lays bare" many of his concerns.

"There now needs to be honest reflection, but more importantly rapid improvement as our children deserve better than this," he added.

'Frozen watchfulness'

Mr Couldrick found "significant weaknesses" in leadership, the stability of the workforce, areas of practice and partnerships with other agencies.

Staff had complained a "constantly changing" direction left them "bewildered", and the level of "churn and turnover" in recruitment made improvements "virtually impossible", he said.

About 40% of the workforce are agency staff.

Tameside also deals with a rate of children much higher than is the case in comparably sized authorities, the review found.

Staff also described a "brutal" regime in which senior leaders were "exited" from the organisation following a poor review or inspection.

This has led to a "strong sense of unease, uncertainty and frozen watchfulness", Mr Couldirick noted.

Tameside Council was "quick to blame others" for the failings and "need to take responsibility" to oversee improvements, he said.

Mr Couldrick said he had considered taking the services, which had "continued to deteriorate", out of council control and placing them in a trust or with a neighbouring authority.

However, he said his recommendations would form a "scaffold" upon which the council could build.