Rewarded for failure?
“Inadequate” boss was the region’s highest earner
Darryl Freeman joined Herefordshire Council Children’s Services in September 2021 and became the Director of Children’s Services (DCS) in October 2021 after the sudden departure of Cath Knowles.
On 27 March 2024, a damning letter to Herefordshire Children’s Services was published by Ofsted. On the same day, the council confirmed that he “will be leaving Herefordshire Council with immediate effect.” You draw your own conclusions!
The Hereford Times and the BBC have now reported that while failing the children of Herefordshire, Mr Freeman was the “highest-paid council employee in the [West Midlands] region in financial year 2023/24, at £264,000.”
Before joining Herefordshire Children’s Services, he had been Head of Children’s Social Care at Devon County Council . After an inspection in January 2020, Ofsted rated the service as “Inadequate”. That Ofsted inspection report started with these words: “There are serious failures in the services provided to children and young people in Devon.” It went on to describe “the impact of leaders on social work practice with children and families” as “Inadequate”.
The question has to be asked: why on earth was Darryl Freeman ever taken on in Herefordshire when the service was already in crisis? What did those employing him expect to happen?
Darryl Freeman was Director of Children’s Services when Tash Ashby died. She was a vulnerable 21 year old care leaver who died in a tent while street homeless. An inquest into her death has been adjourned so that Herefordshire Council can address questions about systemic failings which may have contributed to her death. This article by Professor Luke Clements shines a spotlight on some of the questions which need answering. https://www.lukeclements.co.uk/why-everyone-should-be-talking-about-tash-ashby/
Darryl Freeman also dismissed a MASH referral from the police about a man previously charged with 15 counts of child sexual abuse including child rape and left him working as a Foster Carer. There are big questions being asked now about the lies and process failures in connection with this case.
Darryl Freeman now works in Wiltshire Council as Corporate Director - Children and Education. One wonders how much of this he mentioned on his application?