Blackburn with Darwen's fostering service 'put children at risk'

A watchdog said Blackburn with Darwen Council didn’t always carry out criminal record checks on carers and branded the fostering department “inadequate”.

Council bosses said the inspection had been harsher than in previous years and claimed improvements had already been made since Ofsted’s visit in September.

They admitted the verdict of inadequate was “disappointing” but insisted the overall content was positive.

But opposition councillors have described the report as “worrying” while Blackburn MP Jack Straw said it was “a warning” for the council.

The report said:

• Criminal Records Bureau checks on carers were not always renewed when they should be.

• Checks on agency workers fell short of requirements.

• Children were “put at risk of exposure to adults who are not suitable to work with them”.

• Not enough was done to ensure workers with access to children were thoroughly vetted.

• On one occasion, the selection panel approved a foster home where there were “potential known risks to a child’s physical safety” and no health and safety check was available.

Inspectors also said the panel breached regulations because its members were not replaced often enough, undermining its independence.

Peter Morgan, strategic director of children’s services at the council, insisted none of the 207 children in the council’s care had been put at risk - in contrast to the findings of the report.

He said there had only been one failure to renew criminal records checks, which involved a known carer, and said while this was “a technical breach” it still wasn’t acceptable.

A new chair for the selection panel had now been appointed, he added.

Last year the service received an ”adequate” rating. An overall Joint Area Review of the council’s children’s services is expected to give a positive verdict, partly because of the action already taken to address the report’s concerns.

Children’s services departments nationwide are set for even tougher inspections - including spot checks - in the aftermath of the Baby P tragedy in Haringey.

Councillor Chris Thayne, executive member for children’s services at Blackburn with Darwen, said: “People should be reassured that the department has responded extremely quickly to the issues that have been raised.”

Coun Maureen Bateson, Labour’s education spokesman, said: “I am very disappointed and I expect better political leadership on this.”

Coun Bateson praised the front-line staff and said the department was “stretched” and needed more money.

Jack Straw MP said: "This is obviously a very disappointing report, and it's very important that the council gets on and deals with all the recommendations.

"The crucial thing is the council has not had a disaster and it would be immensely damaging for all concerned if it did.

"This is a warning. On the whole, Blackburn with Darwen is a good authority and gets good ratings."

The inspection rated the council as “good” or “satisfactory” in the other five areas, but inadequate at protecting children from harm and keeping them safe, leading to an overall rating of inadequate.

Mr Morgan added: “While we are disappointed with the judgement on staying safe, the report overall is extremely positive.”

In September we revealed two bosses had quit Lancashire County Council, which includes Hyndburn and Ribble Valley, after a damning report into its own fostering department, which also saw it branded “inadequate”.