Concern over protection of young people

HOWARD SYKES

OLDHAM COUNCIL: COUNCILLOR Howard Sykes has called for Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon to offer assurances following a report that said the authority “isn’t yet delivering good protection and help for children, young people and families”.

Councillor Sykes expressed his concern over Ofsted’s report on the performance of Oldham’s children’s services department. At the previous inspection in 2012 Ofsted judged the service to be good. But the August 2015 report said the service requires Improvement.

Ofsted suggested four authority-run children’s homes were good or outstanding and there were no widespread or serious failures. But the report also said the authority isn’t yet delivering good protection and help for children, young people and families.

Councillor Sykes asked what measures would be put in place to improve matters.

But council leader Councillor Jim McMahon said the council couldn’t achieve all the different requirements when the money is cut in half by government. He added that a plan is in place “to get it back to where it needs to be.”