No council employee will face disciplinary action following the abuse of 1,400 children over a 16-year period, the chief executive has said.
Martin Kimber, the chief executive of Rotherham Council, said there was insufficient evidence to discipline individuals working at the council, despite the report highlighting ‘blatant’ failures in its leadership at the time.
He said: 'Officers in senior positions responsible for children's safeguarding services throughout the critical periods when services fell some way short of today's standards do not work for the council today.
'To that extent, I have not been able to identify any issues of professional practice related to current serving officers of this council that would require me to consider use of disciplinary or capability procedures.'
However, the chief executive stressed it would be ‘important’ for the current employers of those senior officers who worked in Rotherham’s child care services department during the critical period, and who are still involved in professional practice, ‘to read the independent inquiry and form their own conclusions as to their role’.
Mr Kimber also confirmed he would not be stepping down from his position, saying the report makes it clear he is part of the solution to improving services not part of the problem.
The leader of Rotherham, Cllr Roger Stone, stepped down yesterday to take responsibility for the historic failings outlined by the investigators.
