And that banning of the Children and Young People's Director from serving as Chair of the Local Safeguarding Board, needs to extend to all employees of the local authority, so that the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board can be properly independent.
Where there is a rotten Director of Children and Young People's Services, it has always been simple for that person to counter angument and stay in place, by giving power over all, so that one organisation beneath his feet, supports another organisation beneath his feet. The corollary being,:
'Surely two such organisations cannot be wrong'?
When in fact rather than 'two organisations', what is being considered is 'one man' or 'one woman'.
As an additional safeguard, can I suggest that both the Director of Children and Young People's Services and the Chair or the Local Safeguarding Children Board, should have regular personal background checks. There seem to be some awfully cosy relationships about, between one part of the children's sector and others.. and in particular with overseeing Executive councillors.
Our children are far too precious to be let down by systems which allow and encourage nepotism - if one person being in overall charge of two organisations, which are in theory in place to act as a check to each other can be referred to as 'nepotism'? It's much closer that that, surely?
Anyone know the right word? Would it be autocracy? despotism? didactism?