Herefordshire Council given improvement notice being blasted by judge over 'long-standing failures’

Herefordshire Council has received a non-statutory Improvement Notice from the Department for Education (DfE)

Herefordshire Council has today (Tuesday 18 May 2021) received a non-statutory Improvement Notice from the Department for Education (DfE).

The notice follows significant concerns raised in a recent High Court judgement which led to an urgent and thorough external review of Herefordshire Children’s Social Care Services.

The Improvement Notice includes the appointment of Gladys Rhodes White OBE as an Improvement Adviser for a minimum of 12 months, and until such time that the Secretary of State is satisfied that she is no longer required. Mrs Rhodes White will provide advice to Children’s Social Care Services and Herefordshire Council, and she will chair the Improvement Board which is being established from the beginning of June 2021.

Paul Walker, newly appointed Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council said: “We welcome the appointment of Gladys Rhodes White OBE as Improvement Adviser following the Department for Education Improvement Notice. Mrs Rhodes White is an outstanding leader with substantial expertise and skills in transforming and improving services and outcomes for children and families. I will work closely with Gladys and Cath Knowles, our Interim Director of Children’s Services, to address the serious issues identified by the High Court judgement and Department for Education Improvement Notice and to deliver a sustainable and improved children’s services department.

“We take full accountability for the failings of our Children’s Social Care Services and we will make much-needed changes to our culture and practices. Our Interim Director of Children’s Services continues to lead the improvements to our Children’s Social Care Services. Our social workers continue to do their best, often in very difficult circumstances, to support families and protect vulnerable children in our community. Under the new leadership, we will strive to ensure we offer Herefordshire children, and their families, the highest level of care and support possible. ” 

A review of Children’s Social Care services is underway to understand and address any failings and immediate actions are being taken to deal with any serious concerns.

Last month, a High Court judge condemned Herefordshire Council for what he described as some of the most “egregious and long-standing failures” he has ever encountered in his professional life.

Mr Justice Keehan questioned whether the council’s children’s services are fit for purpose after failures spanning more than eight years compounded the emotional and psychological harm children in care have suffered.

Four children were placed with local authority foster carers in 2012 but the council since failed to promote contact between the children and their mother.

The council failed to use a fact-finding court judgement as a basis for challenging and changing the children’s distorted perceptions of their family.

It also failed to manage the foster placement properly and to ensure the children’s emotional needs were met.

The council failed to take any sufficient steps to preserve the children’s sense of identity with and connection to their family.

And while one of the children was hospitalised the council marginalised the mother and failed to accord her parental responsibility the weight and respect it deserved.

The council gave consent to medical procedures without any discussion with the mother or any application to the court for a best interest decision.

Despite being aware of the gravity of the child’s situation, they did not discuss with the mother the possibility of removing the child from life support.

The child died while the mother was on her way to the hospital to say her final goodbye.

The council also accepts that important documents were not always provided to the foster carers at an appropriate time, promptly or sufficiently in advance for them to consider, understand and assimilate the contents without feeling rushed or under pressure.