Directions issued to Rotherham metropolitan borough council
Directions issued to Rotherham metropolitan borough council due to its inadequate performance in children's social care services.
Applies to England
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These directions address failures by the council to comply with its best value duty and failure to perform to an adequate standard, or at all, some or all of its children’s social care functions.
The directions have been made by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in accordance with his powers under section 15(5) and (6) of the Local Government Act 1999, and by the Secretary of State for Education under section 497A(4B) of the Education Act 1996.
This follows an independent inspection report by Louise Casey CB which concluded that the council is:
- not fit for purpose
- failing in its legal obligation to secure continuous improvement in the way in which it exercises its functions
- failing in its duties to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm
An accompanying explanatory memorandum sets out the circumstances in which these directions have been made, the reasons for exercising these powers and the implications of the directions for the authority.
Sir Derek Myers, Stella Manzie CBE, Malcolm Newson, Mary Ney and Julie Kenny CBE, DL have been nominated as commissioners for the purposes of these directions through the nominations attached above.
Also attached are the representations that the Secretary of State received from the council which are referenced in the explanatory memorandum.
See documents relating to proposed return of certain functions to the council.
This direction has closed. On 18 September 2018 the Secretary of State issued Directions to Rotherham metropolitan borough council returning all remaining functions.
On 27 March 2019, the Secretary of State confirmed the government’s intervention in Rotherham council was to conclude on 31 March 2019.