Herefordshire Council promises 'swift action' after criticism of children services
A High Court judge questioned whether the department is fit for purpose.
Herefordshire council says it plans 'swift and decisive action' after a High Court judge questioned whether its children's services department is fit for purpose.
Mr Justice Keehan concluded that Herefordshire Council ''utterly failed' three young people.
The judge, who is based in the Family Division of the High Court in London, said he had rarely encountered such 'egregious and long-standing failures' by a council.
He outlined his criticisms in a ruling published online after considering the children's case at a recent family court hearing.
The family involved cannot be identified.
Council leader David Hitchiner said he is deeply disturbed by Mr Justice Keehan's latest judgment and apologised to the family involved.
Mr Hitchiner said the ruling shows that 'previous steps' taken to improve children's services had 'fallen short'.
An extraordinary general council meeting will take place on April 27th.
Mr Justice Keehan said the young people at the centre of the most recent case are now 17, 13 and 11.
He said another child died nearly two years ago, at the age of 14, after becoming ill.
The four siblings had been placed with foster carers in 2012.
Mr Justice Keehan said their mother had been 'completely and exclusively sidelined' by the council.
The judge said the council had 'ignored' and 'challenged' the advice of a 'hugely experienced' child psychiatrist for reasons he did not 'begin to understand'.
He added:
'The whole history of the role of this local authority in the lives of these children is highly inexplicable.
'The only matter which is clear to me is that it did not have the welfare best interests of the children at the heart of its decision-making, such as it was.
'This must call into question whether this local authority's children's services department is fit for purpose.'
In a statement Mr Hitchiner says 'I am deeply disturbed and saddened by this judgment.
'On behalf of the council, I would like to apologise to the family affected by the appalling failings identified by Mr Justice Keehan.
'The latest judgment shows the previous steps taken to make improvements in children's services have fallen short of what is required to protect and safeguard the children of Herefordshire.
'Cabinet have requested the monitoring officer calls an extraordinary meeting of council to agree swift and decisive action to improve these services.''
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