Bromley Children's Services in Crisis

7.37.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 2nd Apr 2004

Chris Maines is warning that vulnerable children are at risk from Bromley's failing children's social services

Another damning report on Bromley Council's Social Services has labelled the services for children at risk in Penge as "unsafe". "Our most vulnerable children have been left exposed to further abuse and neglect," according to Cllr Chris Maines.

The report details 27 urgent action points that need to be taken to rescue the service. The most serious comment directs the Council to act so that Children in need and at risk receive a prompt and effective response.

Lib Dem Councillor Chris Maines is demanding to know why Bromley Councils' own officers did not know that the service was in crisis. "How can the individuals leading the service not know it was failing so dramatically? " Cllr Chris Maines has asked in a letter to the Council's Chief Executive. "It should not take a team of Government inspectors to highlight such a dire situation, the Council's own monitoring should have been aware of the situation."

Crisis, what Crisis?

Some emergency measures were introduced at the end of January, following the Inspection last November. Until this time Council were complacent about it's failing services according to Cllr Chris Maines. "Several of the issues were raised prior to the report and we were told we were "making mischief". Now we see that children's services in the north of the borough are on the verge of collapse."

"Bromley Council now needs a report of its own to find out how it managed not to be aware of the problems, or did not see the problems as a crisis that needed immediate action."