Council 'failures' led to abuse

A report has found "fundamental failures" at a West Yorkshire council enabled a couple to sexually abuse children in their care.

Ian Wathey and Craig Faunch, from Pontefract, were jailed for a total of 11 years after being found guilty of sex offences last May.

An independent inquiry into how Wakefield Council allowed this to happen has found "serious failures".

The council said it welcomed the report and would use it to improve services.

The report states that the fostering panel which approved the two men "was deficient in a number of important respects" and at no time "was there an effective annual review" of the couple.

'Inadequacy'

The report concludes: "The practice of some social workers in this case was deficient.

"The inadequacy of supervision of these staff and the inappropriateness of responses by some 'middle' managers to what they knew, or should have known at the time, were matters of equal concern".

It also states the children were placed without their needs being properly considered, concluding that the placement of the first child "could not have been more inappropriate".

Now a series of recommendations have been made by the report's authors, led by social care expert Brian Parrott.

Elaine McHale, Wakefield Council's Corporate Director of Family Services, said: "We welcome the completion of the independent inquiry carried out at our request by Brian Parrott.

"We are grateful for all his work and for the recommendations he has made as a result of his investigation, which we are using to improve our fostering services now and for the future.

"The report will be presented to the full meeting of the council on September 12. Until then, it is not appropriate for us to comment further."