Tag Archives: Chrildren’s Services

Tory councillor’s Commissioner video nasty is another wild rant

Simon Brew, a Conservative councillor in Croydon for the past 11 years, hasn’t had the best of luck with his campaigning on local issues when he has tried to use modern communication techniques – like videos. Remember how he lobbied … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Purley, Section 114 notice, Simon Brew, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Croydon residents pick up the £1m tab for ‘improvement’ panel

It is residents who will pay the cost of government ‘intervention’ if Commissioners move in at Fisher’s Folly next month, just as they have been paying for a panel of Whitehall-appointed ‘experts’ since 2021. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Official figures … Continue reading

Posted in Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, Stabilisation Plan, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

£603,000: the soaring costs of Croydon’s ‘improvement’ panel

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Three years since Tony McArdle and his government-appointed team of troubleshooters were parachuted into the council, there are mounting questions about what they have achieved. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The Government-appointed chair of Croydon Council’s “improvement and … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Libraries, Section 114 notice, SEND, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Potter foster parents awarded MBE after helping 200 children

A Wallington couple who have cared for 200 children over 43 years of fostering were awarded an MBE in this month’s Queen’s Birthday Honours. Brenda and Gordon Potter have fostered for Croydon Council since 1989. Brenda had trained as a … Continue reading

Posted in Children's Services, Croydon Council | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Croydon social workers ‘demoralised’, say Ofsted inspectors

One year on and Ofsted inspectors are still seriously dissatisfied with the pace of improvement in Croydon’s children’s services department. Croydon’s children’s services were declared “inadequate” in an Ofsted inspectors’ report in September 2017, and today the inspectors have issued … Continue reading

Posted in Alisa Flemming, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Eleni Ioannides, Jo Negrini, Tony Newman | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Commissioner appointed to oversee children’s services

An expert who oversaw reforms of a London council’s social services department following the notorious Baby P tragedy has been appointed by the government to look into Croydon’s failing children services. Justine Greening, the Education Secretary, announced at lunchtime that … Continue reading

Posted in Barbara Peacock, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Tony Newman, Youth Services | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments