VULNERABLE RESIDENTS LET DOWN

6.41.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 14th Jul 2009

Vulnerable residents let down as Portfolio Holder passes the buck.

A recent report into social care services at Poole Borough Council gave a damning indictment of the quality of safeguarding vulnerable people. This aspect of social care is central to adult care and for this to be described as 'poor' is totally unacceptable.

The Conservative Portfolio Holder for the Service, Elaine Atkinson, passed the blame on to council officers when responding to the report. She claimed her responsibilities rested with ensuring the service was sound and adequately funded and that the policies were appropriate. She failed to acknowledge that she had overall responsibility for the quality of service delivery. Further comments revealed the emphasis over the last few years had been upon money and "balancing the books". It is clear from statements in the report and the 19 recommendations that in terms of safeguarding the portfolio holder has failed service unit staff - "training was not a planned process and training was insufficiently co-ordinated;" partners - …."The Adult Protection Committee had not provided effective interagency leadership"; and service users - "practice was inconsistent and left some service users at avoidable risk"; and "protection planning was unacceptably weak."

"That adult safeguarding should be classed as "poor" is totally unacceptable and a sad reflection upon those in authority," said Cllr Mike Brooke, who added: "many people have been badly let down over a number of years. The Conservative administration has failed Poole's most vulnerable residents and the Portfolio Holder should hang her head in shame"