Managers argue over rap for Vale of Glamorgan joint review

Social workers in the Vale of Glamorgan claim that middle
management, rather than senior management, is taking the rap for
its highly critical joint review, writes Natalie
Valios.

Following the social services joint review in September last
year, the Improvement and Development Agency was brought in to help
produce a new organisational framework for social services, as part
of a corporate review of all council services.

Under this, the number of operational managers in both adult
services and children’s services was reduced from four to three.
Just one operational manager has kept her job. The performance
management, Best Value and commissioning division was restructured
to include two new operational managers.

James Cawley, director of community services, said seven of the
posts were advertised internally because the job was radically
changed. Two appointments were made. The remaining five posts are
currently being advertised externally, and previous internal
applicants will be reconsidered. If they fail to get the job they
can be considered for the next tier at team manager level.

Mary Bell, Unison chairperson for the Vale of Glamorgan, said:
“Knowledge that the majority of operational managers, who represent
a key level of management, were unsuccessful in obtaining
appointments in the new structure is a bewildering decision,
particularly when the joint review criticised senior levels of
management, who on the whole have kept their jobs.

However, Cawley countered: “I wasn’t in post at the time, nor
was the head of children’s services, and there is a new post of
head of strategy and performance management.

“I can categorically say that no middle managers have taken the
rap for the joint review. We made it clear when the joint review
came out that we weren’t looking for scapegoats.”