News

The Edinburgh branch of trade union Unison is calling for a public debate on the report into the death of 11-week-old Caleb Ness, claiming it contains contradictions and reaches "dubious conclusions".

Edinburgh Council is considering changes to social work and child protection services after Caleb died from being shaken by his father. The report found the death had been "avoidable" and social work director Les McEwan later resigned.

The trade union's concerns centre on what it claims are inaccuracies in the report and a lack of understanding of child protection laws.


"Many people are beginning to raise concerns about this inquiry and the danger of it being used to remodel child protection services," said Unison branch secretary John Stevenson.

But a spokesperson for the council denied the restructuring of the social work department was a "knee-jerk" reaction to the Caleb Ness report, insisting it was an integral part of the 2007 review of council services.