Arthur Labinjo-Hughes commissioner appointed for Solihull Council

Education Secretary Kit Malthouse has said he ‘remains unconvinced’ that sufficient work has been done to improve children’s services in Solihull following the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

The Secretary of State confirmed the government will now be sending a commissioner to work with Solihull Council on improving children’s social care.

In a letter to chair of the Education Select Committee Robert Halfon MP, Mr Malthouse said he was concerned about the ability of Solihull to deliver ‘a safe service to children in need of help and protection’. He added he is not satisfied with the progress made following the provision of some funding that was aimed at addressing concerns around ‘high levels of unmanaged risk’.

His comments came today in response to a letter sent by Mr Halfon to the Education Secretary on September 27. MPs had questioned whether Solihull Council’s chief executive Nick Page was ‘up to the job’ of improving children’s services after six-year-old Arthur’s murder.

Mr Malthouse’s letter said: “I want to make it clear that failure to deliver a high-quality children’s social care service is unacceptable and that all children in this country deserve the very best of care.

“The tragic events leading up to the deaths of both Arthur and Star should not be allowed to happen again and my department takes our role in this incredibly seriously. The government will not hesitate to hold local leaders to account in order to keep children safe

Arthur Labinjo-Hughes from Solihull died after sustaining an ‘unsurvivable brain injury’ on June 16, 2020. His stepmother Emma Tustin, 32, was jailed for life in December last year with a minimum term of 29 years for murder, while his father Thomas Hughes, 29, is serving 24 years for manslaughter, a sentence increased on appeal.

During the trial, it emerged social workers had visited Arthur in the months before he died but found no issues despite concerned relatives. The letter from the Education Secretary also addresses the murder of one-year-old Star Hobson and failings at Bradford Council.

The letter continues: “A formal review recently took place with the chief executive, interim director of children’s services, leader of the council and lead member. Unfortunately, my team and I remain unconvinced that sufficient improvement had been made.

“I am now minded to issue a statutory direction and deploy a commissioner to instruct the council as to how to improve the children’s social care functions, allowing 14 days for the council to make a representation.”

Solihull Council has been informed that Sir Alan Wood has been appointed as the Department for Education’s commissioner.

Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, has said in response: “I understand the DfE’s reasons behind this decision and I can assure the Secretary of State that everyone in Solihull will give the commissioner their full support.

“We now have a new senior management team in children’s services, and I know they will welcome any extra support or advice to make the necessary transformation within the council and across our partner organisations.

“All those involved in safeguarding in the borough have accepted the National Panel findings and are committed to improving the safeguarding of children, young people and families within Solihull.”

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