Staff shortages and poor children's services are highlighted as the
key areas of failure among the eight councils awarded no stars this
year, according to the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
Performance reviews of the eight lowest-rated councils in England
reveal that high vacancy rates and rapid turnover of management and
front-line staff significantly "hampered" targets.
The CSCI's review of Birmingham Council reveals that recruitment
pressures pose a "high risk" to the improvement of front-line
services, while a review of Cumbria reveals an "urgent" staffing
crisis.
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Five of the eight zero-starred councils failed to meet the
requirements of the Victoria Climbi' Report.
At Ealing, the CSCI found "no instances" of implementing integrated
services and the "smallest gains" in efficiency of children's
services.
The other zero-star social services departments are at
Bedfordshire, Isles of Scilly, Oldham, Plymouth and Swindon
councils.
