Dundee's Shame

It's with embarrassment and some irritation that I read of the major deficiencies within Dundee's child protection services. How can a council allow a department to get into such a state where HMIE found 9 of the 19 quality indicators were either weak or unsatisfactory during an inspection? This is the council department which insisted, during the baby Brandon inquiry, that their handling of the case was proficient.

The answer is incompetent management combined with lack of independent supervision.

Alan Baird, Dundee's director of social work and recently appointed chairman of the committee overseeing child protection in the city says he can take the service forward yet his leadership was called weak in the report issued yesterday. Nevertheless, council administration leader Ken Guild pledged support for Mr Baird and said there were no plans to seek resignations from members of the social work department. "Alan is the right man to address the issues and responsibilities highlighted by the report and we are already working to improve the areas indicated in the report." Oh really!

This smacks of the days when labour ran Dundee. People in positions of power but lacking abilities. Protect the man at all costs syndrome.

One councillor, with 46 years experience, said the report left him wondering if the council's entire structure was at fault. He may well be right. "We held briefings and received assurances that things were being well managed." Not a good enough excuse Mr Borthwick. What head of department would admit to being useless at their job? Councillors should be making their own investigations and not solely relying upon council staff's reports.

I do hope the new SNP administration act swiftly to ensure this department is overhauled from top to bottom and the right people are doing the work. Here's their chance to prove they can make changes for the better and give the children of Dundee the quality of protection they deserve.

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