Interesting piece on the BASW webiste about 'Sandwell Council’s decision to award a £1.5m 30-month contract to management consultancy firm iMPOWER to run its children’s services'.
Sandwell have 'canned' some top management and replaced them with agency top mangers to deliver services.
Double yew, tea, eff? Why would they do that?
I am but a humble assistant manager so this blue sky, out of the box, re-framing, win-win, client focused, resource driven, strategic fit, best value, root and branch restructure makes no sense to me.
Somewhere some how, iMpower is making some cash, somewhere some how, the Local Authority is saving some cash. Or alternatively they are adding another level of management to do what exactly? Well according to Darren Cooper, who leads Sandwell Council, these people “know what excellence looks like". So presumably what they will do is pass on the knowledge of 'excellence aesthetics'.
Back in February Sandwell reported improvements and Cabinet member for children and families, Bob Badham, said "The whole culture of children's social care in Sandwell has changed. The child is at the centre of everything we do". I'm sure the children will be chuffed at the new 'suits' appointed. But what I find odd is their Ofstead report was improved from 'inadequate' to 'adequate', not great, but clearly heading in the right direction, so why 9 months later spend £1.5 million on consultants?
I've always felt that in Social Care we follow in the footsteps of health and this has that feel of clinical governance about it. Add layers of management to design services that deliver excellence, whilst all the time cutting services, but claiming its an improvement.
It's Council Tax payers money so I hope that at a time of cuts with only more cuts to come, they can justify spending the £1.5 million on management when it could be used to improve services.
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