Over 1,100 Unread Emails: Haringey Council Accused of Failing Its Most Vulnerable Residents

Haringey Council is once again facing uncomfortable questions about its commitment to its most vulnerable residents. Over 1,100 emails, including more than 500 police welfare reports, were left unread in an inbox, according to a recent report from the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGO). The revelations have exposed what seems to be a deeply troubling systemic failure within the council’s adult social care department.

The LGO’s report, described as “absolutely shocking” and “utterly negligent” by Liberal Democrat councillor Pippa Connor, detailed a case where a resident at risk of homelessness and with health issues received no help despite urgent alerts from a friend and emergency services. Tragically, this individual later suffered a fall during a seizure, resulting in a life-changing injury. While the Ombudsman could not state if the accident would have been prevented, the report highlighted the council’s “inertia” and the profound uncertainty left for the man’s loved ones.

The Ombudsman’s Damning Findings

Julie Odams, the LGO’s chief executive stated that the council needed to make “lasting changes”. The investigation found that the social work inbox was simply not being properly monitored, leaving hundreds of critical police reports unaddressed and residents at risk.

For a borough like Haringey, with substantial numbers of children living in poverty and over 12,000 households on the social housing waiting list, the demand for robust social services is immense. To have such a volume of critical communications ignored raises serious questions about the council’s operational effectiveness and its understanding of the human impact of its processes.

A History of Concern, A Call for Accountability

Cllr Pippa Connor, the opposition spokesperson for social care, pointed out that “Haringey of all places should have failsafe measures in place when it comes to serious safeguarding issues like these.” Her reference to Haringey’s painful history with safeguarding failures, notably the Victoria Climbié and Baby P cases, underscores the gravity of these recent revelations. “Apologies are no longer enough: we have heard ‘this must never happen again’ too many times before,” she asserted, demanding that senior officials and politicians explain how this was allowed to happen and what robust monitoring processes are now in place.

Where is the Accountability?

Following such a damning report, residents might expect clear accountability. However, there has been no indication of disciplinary action or resignations among senior officials or managers within Haringey Council. While the council has agreed to an action plan, including staff training on dealing with safeguarding referrals, the absence of visible individual accountability raises concerns about whether the root causes are truly being addressed.

With regular findings of failures from multiple watchdogs, what steps will Haringey’s councillors take to challenge the culture that allows such situations to occur?