Lynne Featherstone

Reacting to the news that Haringey’s Social Services is once again to be given a ‘zero star’ rating by outside experts, Haringey’s opposition Liberal Democrats have called for Labour councillors to admit their failure to sort out social services.

The Government’s Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) report into the Social Services department is due tomorrow (Friday 15 November) and will announce updated Star Ratings for local authorities.

Haringey, despite the lessons of the Laming Inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie and an injection of £2m funds into children’s services, has once again been given the bottom ‘no star’ rating.

This news follows the SSI criticising Haringey Council for its attempts to rig the results of a questionnaire to users of the Children’s Services and the revelation in leaked Labour documents that extra money for social services was not going on front line services but instead on improving the press operation for the troubled department.

Liberal Democrat Social Services spokesman Cllr Ron Aitken said:

“Haringey will try to put the best gloss on this very poor showing. However, cosmetic changes and the scapegoating of relatively junior employees hide the lack of real accountability by the Labour politicians who remain in charge. Decision-making is still made behind closed doors in one-party meetings.”