A REDDITCH expert on child protection is to serve on the county council’s improvement board.
The move comes after education watchdog Ofsted branded Worcestershire’s children’s services ‘Inadequate’ – for the second time running.
Councillor Pattie Hill (Lab, Arrow Valley West) spent her professional life looking after the welfare of children and cracking down on those who try to exploit them.
She put together the European Directive on the protection of young people at work and has featured in programmes as diverse as Blue Peter, Panorama and Cutting Edge, shooting undercover film of children in danger and being exploited.
Now the long-serving campaigner, who also represents Batchley on Redditch Borough Council, has volunteered to help turn around Worcestershire’s dire record of looking after the children in its care.
“Clare Marchant, the county council chief executive, said that something needs to be done about this and I agree with her and she has really cracked on to get this sorted,” said Coun Hill.
“We are all hoping to get better results for the young people in our area but to do that we need to ensure that their voices are heard and we do the best we possibly can for them.”
An Ofsted report of January 2017 branded the levels of child care, protection, and progression after leaving care in Worcestershire as ‘Inadequate’.
It gave the same damning verdict for the leadership, management and governance displayed by the Conservative- controlled council.
Ofsted said: “There are widespread and serious failures in the services provided in Worcestershire for children who need help and protection and children looked after.”
However, the report concluded that there was strong political support and that the ‘pace of change has recently been accelerated’.
The county currently has 710 children in its care, an increase from 694 since this time last year.
“You have to ask yourself what if this was your child,” said Coun Hill.
“What we want to achieve is that our children and young adults live in a safe home with people who care and support and encourage them in reaching their personal aspirations.”
Worcestershire is desperate for foster carers. To find out more, visit www.worcestershirefostering.co.uk/
