Midlothian Council's director of social work has resigned in the wake of a damning report into child protection at the authority. Malcolm McEwan tendered his resignation last Wednesday together with cabinet member for social work, health and housing, Cllr Danny Molloy, after the HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) accused the council's child protection service of leaving children ‘exposed to risk of abuse and neglect'. Council leader, Cllr Adam Montgomery, said: ‘The report found serious management weaknesses within Midlothian Council's child protection arrangements delivered by the social work, children and families team. The director indicated he had ultimate responsibility for the failings and resigned.' He added the council had made ‘reassuring' progress in the five months since the inspection to address the weaknesses recorded. Cllr Molloy said he took political responsibility for the service in resigning but added, five months on, the service was ‘much improved'. The inspection, which took place between June and September last year, saw the authority given three ‘adequate', 12 ‘weak' and three ‘unsatisfactory' (the lowest) gradings out of 18 indicators of service.
