Report slates Birmingham social services
Updated on 05 October 2009
Children's services in Britain's second biggest city are not "fit for purpose" - the stark conclusion of an internal report into Birmingham council.
The report was ordered after the deaths of eight children known to social workers in the city, including seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq, from Handsworth, who was allegedly starved.
Khyra’s mother and stepfather, who deny killing her, are due to stand trial for her murder next year.
The report highlighted staff shortages and sickness rates among social workers of 20 per cent.
The death of Baby Peter in north London caused a similar controversy, as the boy had been seen by various agencies.
The findings by a Birmingham city council scrutiny committee found that a lack of senior management was a "major risk", and a shortage of experienced staff continued to "hamper progress towards improvement".
Findings from an external audit revealed that overall, the quality of case files for children in care was not adequate.
Children's Minister, Dawn Primarolo gave the government reaction to the report.
