Child Care Solicitors

The government has warned that children’s services in Birmingham could be taken over if standards are not improved.

Ofsted inspectors are due to revisit the children’s services department at Birmingham City Council later in November and if standards have not improved, the Department for Education will take over the management of them.

Earlier this week Education Secretary Michael Gove said a model introduced at Doncaster could be rolled out across the country for failing child protection services.

In Doncaster a private provider is currently running children’s services instead of the Local Authority until a trust can be set up to take over the management of child protection.

Children’s services in Birmingham have failed Ofsted inspections for the last four years. Head of the department Peter Hay said there were “no easy answers” but the city council should still have some involvement in running the services.

In Birmingham two children have died in recent years as a result of child abuse at home. In 2011, two-year-old Keanu Williams was found at his home with 37 injuries – his mother Rebecca Shuttleworth is serving a life sentence for his murder. In 2008, seven-year-old Khyra Ishaq was found starved to death at home. Her mother Angela Gordon and former partner Junaid Abuhamza were found guilty of her manslaughter and jailed.

Peter Hay took over as head of children’s services in Birmingham in July this year – and has said that he cannot guarantee the safety of children in Birmingham.

Family and Childcare Legal Advice

Duncan Lewis offers a full range of legal services to those seeking advice about family and childcare issues, including children taken into Local Authority care and child abuse cases.

Contact Duncan Lewis family and children’s solicitors on 020 7923 4020.