Save SHSC Campaign Grows

Michael Coughlin, Chief Executive of Reading Borough Council has written to Reading University to express his 'deep concern' at the proposal to close the School of Health and Social Care at the end of the current intake of students in 2011.

Borough councillors unanimously passed a LibDem motion condemning the move on 24th February, which comes after the tragic death of Child T, ultimately caused by a lack of properly trained social workers and bad management practices, and despite reports stating the school remains profitable overall.

Councillors insist that the public service case is therefore unanswerable and that a stay of execution until the autumn is the minimum acceptable decision for the University Senate, as this would at least allow the publication of a report by the government-appointed Social Work Taskforce into the provision of training and support for the sector.

A lobby protest outside the Senate Meeting on 11th March has been announced and a further public meeting on 16th March at Reading Civic Centre will take place.

Update: Wokingham LibDems have joined the chorus.