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After Khyra death council still face hurdles
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DEATH: Khyra Ishaq
MAJOR SHORTCOMINGS and deficiencies still remain in Birmingham City Council's social services department, despite the death of Khyra Ishaq two years ago, an Ofsted report has found.
Seven-year-old Khyra, was starved to death by her mother and boyfriend despite visits by social workers.
Birmingham Councilwas severely criticised in the wake of Khyra's death and a High Court judge concluded earlier this year that she might have lived had she had not been failed by social services.
The council has undergone a series of assessments since the seven-year-old died after months of abuse in May 2008.
In February 2009 the council was served with an improvement notice by the government.
The most recent inspection by Ofsted took place in June and lasted for two weeks. The report highlighted a number of failings.
It said: ‘Although some improvements have been recently made in some key areas by social care services and by partner agencies... some key and important deficiencies remain.
‘Critical practice shortcomings, particularly within children's social care and health, mean that not all children are being safeguarded and protected.
‘Critical deficiencies remain in front line work with children and young people despite significant attempts to deliver improvements.’
Len Clark, head of Birmingham's children's social care, said; “We know we are not good enough yet, we know more needs to be done and we know what we have to do to improve.
"But there is no quick-fix solution to the problems faced in an authority the size of Birmingham.
"Birmingham has a track record of turning around services and there is determined political will to resolve this issue and achieve our goal.”
Published: 29 July 2010
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