Social services not serving people well

Around 45 per cent of social services departments are not
serving most or all children well, according to a new multi-agency
inspection report.

The joint report by the inspectorates for social services,
health and the police is based on the audits that each carried out
following the publication of Lord Laming’s report into the
death of Victoria Climbie.

It brings together key findings from audits of 625 NHS
organisations by the Commission for Health Improvement, 150 social
services departments by the Social Services Inspectorate and 43
police forces.

A lack of clarity about primary care trusts’
responsibilities and insufficient awareness on NHS boards were also
identified by the audits.