LABOUR politicians have blamed Government austerity for Middlesbrough's inadequate children's services. 

Ofsted released the report from its latest inspection yesterday, in which the watchdog said there were serious and widespread failures in the system, that was leaving vulnerable children at risk.

Labour MP Andy McDonald, the member for Middlesbrough, said the Government needed to "step up" in March's budget to adequately fund local government.

He said: “This latest Ofsted report makes for devastating reading and reveals fundamental failures and a long list of urgently needed improvements. It’s clear that vulnerable children in Middlesbrough have been very badly failed.

"Far too many of our children and young people are amongst the most vulnerable and live very difficult lives.

"Their care and well-being is of paramount importance.

“No member of staff at Middlesbrough Council or partner agency goes to work to do a bad job, but it’s very clear from the Ofsted report that serious improvements need to be made.

“For years, we have been challenging the Tory Government to adequately fund local authorities.

“Their cruel programme of austerity and funding cuts leads to the dreadful outcomes that are laid bare in this report. We need to be able to attract the best social care workers and retain them.

“Government needs to step up at the budget in March and give councils the resources needed to protect vulnerable children. There cannot be a price put on the safety and well-being of our children. That’s the priority, not more tax cuts for the richest.

“Major and fundamental improvements are needed and needed quickly. It’s critically important that all the agencies who play a part in trying to make our young people safe continue to work ever more closely together to bring about the changes needed. Our children deserve nothing less.” 

Since 2010, demand for the service has ballooned and the council now spends 35 per cent of its budget on it, up from 13 per cent in 2010.

The council currently has 569 children in its care, while a further 315 are subject to a child protection plan.

Nearly a third of children in the town live in poverty ­– the highest figure in the England, and it has one of the highest rates of children in care in the UK.

Yesterday, Mayor Andy Preston apologised to the children and families of Middlesbrough, who he said had been "massively let down".

The report by Ofsted found a number of failings and said improvements must be made, including:

  • Work with children at risk, particularly in relation to long-standing concerns of chronic neglect and wider exploitation
  • The quality of social work assessments and plans and how they reflect the child’s history and risks to children
  • The response to children who go missing from home, care and education
  • The response to children with specific vulnerabilities, including children aged 16 to 17 who present as homeless, disabled children and children held overnight in police custody
  • Response to allegations against professionals working with children
  • The availability of sufficient, suitable local homes to meet the needs to children in care and care leavers
  • Access to emotional and mental health support for children in care and care leavers
  • Oversight and challenge by managers and leavers

Simon Clarke, the Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, described the report as “hugely concerning” and said Middlesbrough Borough Council was not doing a good enough job.

He said: “This report is hugely concerning. Safeguarding children who are in the care of the State is obviously one of the most important responsibilities of any local authority, and Middlesbrough Borough Council has simply not been doing a good enough job.

“I am really pleased that our Mayor Andy Preston has adopted such an open and honest approach to the fact that we need radical change, and I know he will make this a personal priority. I will be meeting with him later today (Friday) to discuss the Council’s new strategy, and I will obviously provide all the support I can in Westminster.

“A great first step is the new children’s home being built in Thorntree, and the £2.7 million the Government recently gave Middlesbrough Council to help fund the new “No Wrong Door” programme to reduce the number of looked-after kids in the town and ease pressures.”

Labour councillors on Middlesbrough Borough Council have also called for more funding for children’s services

Councillor Matt Storey, leader of the Labour group said: “As a council we have no greater responsibility than to ensure the safety of children in our care. It is utterly heart-breaking to see that we have failed in that duty. All councillors are corporate parents and all of us must now work to deliver the positive outcomes that vulnerable children in Middlesbrough deserve.

“This Ofsted report yet again underlines the need for the Government to properly fund children’s services. Councils across the country are being forced to overspend on children’s social care budgets by nearly £800 million.

“Labour councillors in Middlesbrough have argued time and again that we need more funding for children’s services. The situation has become untenable for authorities like ours.  

“The report does praise the council’s Early Help Team which works to prevent children being taken into care and it states that the work of social workers to help retain family time and family relationships for children in care is carefully considered. I believe that our hardworking staff do everything they can to support families in Middlesbrough under severe pressure and in the most difficult circumstances.

“Following this report we will be doing all we can to ensure the Mayor and his Executive introduce strategies to protect the most vulnerable children in Middlesbrough and we will be scrutinising those strategies to see that they deliver.”

A Department for Education Children's Commissioner will now be appointed in Middlesbrough to report on the council's progress.