NSPCC concern over child protection services (From Hereford Times)

NSPCC concern over child protection services in Herefordshire

2:50pm Friday 19th October 2012 in News

NSPCC is "deeply concerned" about the findings of an Ofted report that declared child protection services in Herefordshire as inadequate.

Sandra Lescott-Robinson, NSPCC West Midlands head of services for children and families, this afternoon said failing to safeguard children is "simply unacceptable" and vulnerable children are being let down.

She said: "The findings of this unannounced inspection are a deep cause for concern.

"Effective child protection services which act quickly to keep vulnerable children safe from harm and prevent abuse are an essential service that all local authorities must provide.

"This report makes it clear that this is currently not the case in Herefordshire and that local children are being failed by the system.

"Safeguarding services must respond to the needs of children. I

"It is simply unacceptable that the failure to properly investigate and respond to concerns has resulted in children who have already been identified as being at risk, suffering further harm at the hands of their abusers.

"These children are being let down by a system which should be working to protect them.

“We welcome the announcement of a robust improvement plan to improve the way children and young people are protected from harm in the county and urge the local authority to act on this quickly and decisively.

"It is vital that they make this work their top priority to give vulnerable children in Herefordshire the protection they need and deserve."

• Herefordshire Council's Child protection services ruled inadequate - full story.

The Ofsted report, published this morning, was highly critical of the county's current service.

It identified the a need to audit all cases closed within the last three months and risk assess all current cases within children's social care services.

Authors also saw "significant number" of cases where managers made poor decisions in respect of ensuring children were protected from harm.

Read the full Ofsted report here.