LIB DEM QUESTIONS UNANSWERED ON SOCIAL SERVICES

6.10.03

Liberal Democrat Social Services Spokesperson Cllr Ron Aitken has revealed a catalogue of failures by Haringey Council's Social Services Department to answer questions raised by him about frontline services and the Management of the Social Services Department.

In contrast, Cllr Aitken has also revealed that the Lead Member and Senior Managers attended 34 meetings with the Social Services Inspectorate in the last year - almost one every week.

Cllr Aitken comments:

"It is clear where Cllr Sulaiman's and the Department's priorities are - lobbying Government inspectors to reconsider the zero-star status which the Department was given last year, rather than being accountable to elected councillors and providing care to vulnerable people. This is a disgrace."

Cllr Aitken has written to the Council listing a lack of response to several issues raised by him, these include:

* A year after raising homecare issues no proper response.

* Lack of clarity regarding police/sex offender checks.

* The plight of residents in care homes facing eviction because Haringey pays less fees than other local authorities.

* The future of disabled adults attending a day centre.

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