The Liberal Democrats in Haringey have demanded an explanation as to why the Labour Council’s Social Services department apparently tried to influence the evidence being given by residents as part of an inquiry by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) into Haringey’s child protection service.

Ms B, who has made a formal complaint about the placement of her son by Haringey without adequate sex offender checks, has told Liberal Democrat Social Services Spokesperson Ron Aitken that she was contacted by the Council who offered her help to fill in the survey and that they would forward it to the SSI. It is not known how Haringey obtained the names of those contacted by the SSI or how many entrusted their survey forms to Haringey social workers.

Ms B, who does not want her name published, says:

“I received a questionnaire from the SSI, but Haringey Social Services somehow found out and sent me a letter saying an admin worker would help me fill the form in. Someone called Fay from Social Services rang me to arrange to come round but I refused to make an appointment.

“Later at a case conference with Haringey Social Services I was asked if I had brought the forms along. Of course I had sent it direct to the SSI in the envelope they provided, and the SSI later contacted me as they were so concerned about the complaints I had made”.

Lib Dem Spokesperson Ron Aitken has called for a full explanation by Haringey, particularly in the light of the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie which is due to report later this month.

He comments:

“The Laming inquiry has persistently criticised Haringey Council for its attitude towards presenting accurate evidence. It is very disturbing news that the Council may have been interfering with the collection of evidence by the SSI.”