The Director of Children’s Services at Manchester City Council has quit – months after a damning report from Ofsted labelled the child protection unit ‘inadequate’.
Mike Livingstone has been the head of the department for eight years and came under fire earlier in the year for multiple failings surrounding the protection of children in the city.
Gladys Rhodes White, a troubleshooter who was brought in to assist Rochdale Council after the child grooming scandal that rocked the town, will temporarily take up the position.
Mr Livingstone said: “My time at Manchester’s Director of Children’s Services has been one of both challenge and reward.
“Through a period of significant spending reductions imposed on local authorities we have protected services which safeguard the city’s most vulnerable children and reformed how these services are delivered.
“Our new approaches to early years and to helping troubled families are just two initiatives which I’m proud of.
“I’m also proud of the creation of the Manchester Youth Council and the enormous progress that has been made during this time on closing the gap between achievements in our schools and schools nationally.
“Despite this progress, however, it’s clear from the recent Ofsted judgement together with the ongoing budget challenges we face that changes are now called for.
“There is still much more to be done in the city and I think this calls for a fresh pair of eyes to take the helm of Children’s Services and see this work through.
“The time is now right for this and I have therefore decided to step down from my role and take a short career break before pursuing other avenues.
“I’d like to express my thanks to all those people who I’ve worked with and who have supported me during my time with the council and I wish them every success in the future.”
Ofsted report, published in September, criticised management, the high number of caseloads across all social work services and the way in which poor practice was not challenged effectively.
Nearly 500 children in Manchester waited a ‘considerable’ time for a social work assessment and, as a result, were left potentially at risk according to the watchdog.
Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member for Children’s Services, Manchester City Council, said: “Mike has achieved a lot during his time in Manchester and we wish him well in his future endeavours.
“We’re agreed however that the time is now right for someone else to take over, to build on the positive changes that have been put in place over the last few months.”
Rhodes White has been appointed to take over as Interim Strategic Director of Children’s Services when Livingstone departs at the end of this month.
Image courtesy of parrot of doom with thanks
