‘Deliberate’ decimation of social work alleged

February 12, 2023 at 3:00 pm

Orkney Islands Council has appealed for time to work with staff to “find the best way forward,” amid fresh claims made this week, alleging that a specific management strategy was deliberately enforced to “shake up” the Children and Families team.

That a “toxic managerialist culture” was deliberately introduced into social work services by the very top leadership at Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is the latest allegation made against the local authority, by new sources this week.

In all, four individuals – some from School Place and some former staff – have shared their belief that calculated efforts were made to force staff out of the Children and Families Service so as to start afresh with a new team.

OIC has said it will not comment further on the issues raised at this stage, as the chief officer of Orkney Health and Care continues to work with staff to gather their views.

For the full story, pick up this week’s edition of The Orcadian.