Quiz the front line staff, council urged (From Western Telegraph)

Quiz the front line staff, council urged

Front line staff must be interviewed as part of a National Assembly inquiry into the running of Pembrokeshire County Council's troubled social services department, say opposition leaders.

Last week they voiced grave concern about the performance of the department. They called for an extraordinary council meeting to openly discuss the issue, a meeting with the Audit Commission, and a National Assembly inquiry.

In a recent television programme, allegations were made of bullyboy tactics within upper management, that staff are unable to speak freely without fear of reprisal, morale is low and staff were emigrating to neighbouring authorities, all of which were denied by the county council.

However, Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, Jane Hutt, has asked the chief inspector of social services to write to the county council's chief executive, Bryn Parry-Jones, and social services director, Jon Skone, for information about the way in which the allegations are to be looked into. He will also ask about the authority's handling of the child care matter which also received media publicity.

But Plaid Cymru leader Michael Williams says this is not enough. "Front line social services staff must be interviewed. It is not enough just to contact the chief executive and social services director," he insisted Liberal democrat leader John Allen added: "It is important that, if they investigate this matter, it must be done as widely as possible."

And Councillor Joyce Watson said: "The allegations are about fear of front line staff being able to come forward. Has the leader of the council himself spoken to the staff? If he has, what are the outcome of those talks."

The Audit Commission has agreed to meet the opposition leaders in the next few weeks. Two years ago the Audit Commission first highlighted problems within the department. "We will be asking them to look at our concerns, particularly over the recommendation that there should be greater member involvement in the supervision of Social Services," said Cllr Allen. "This hasn't happened over the last 18 months. To my knowledge opposition group members have not been invited to meetings to specifically discuss social services."