Social workers in Caleb Ness case cleared

No disciplinary action will be taken against the five Edinburgh
city social workers involved in the Caleb Ness case,
writes Maggie Wood.

A damning report published last year headed by Susan
O’Brien Q.C highlighted faults “at almost every
level” in the city’s social work and health
departments.  

But a five month internal review has concluded that no action
will be taken against the staff – although two workers will be
required to undergo additional training.

Peter Hill, the worker most closely involved in the case, no
longer works for the department.

A spokesperson for Edinburgh Unison welcomed the outcome, but
questioned whether such a review was necessary in the first place
as the O’ Brien inquiry report had been “quite clear
that no one individual was to blame in this case”.