It cast a shadow over the town hall for many years. Hundreds of vulnerable children were left at risk of sexual abuse, physical harm and neglect as Manchester council staff struggled to deal with the volume of young people and their families in crisis.
Nearly 500 children were waiting to be assessed by a social worker - around half for six months and a 'small number' for almost a year - when Ofsted judged the local authority's children's services to be inadequate in 2014. The watchdog found 'widespread' and 'systemic' failures in the department – and the damning inspection report resulted in the resignation of its director.
The city was facing unprecedented challenges. It constantly ranked at the top of child poverty tables and council budgets were being mercilessly slashed. Manchester's failure to care for so many of its own most vulnerable children left a 'shadow' over the town hall – and it damaged the city's reputation.
