We need to rebuild the children and families services division and we need to rebuild public confidence.

That was the message from Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas as Tynwald debated the findings of an independent investigation launched in April last year into allegations about the management of case files and relationships with services users.

Those allegations, first raised by the-then Onchan MHK Peter Karran, included claims that files were manipulated and falsified and about threatening, abusive and coercive behaviour by staff.

The Policy and Reform Minister said it was not for politicians to attribute blame but he expressed regret for any trauma.

He said: ’In the children and families’ social work division we have a professional service operating under a lot of pressure and a lot of scrutiny. They have begun to make some welcome improvements but we, and they, have a lot of work to do.

’We need to rebuild the service and we need to rebuild public confidence.’

Mr Karran had sought assurances that families can expect files to be accurate, that staff will treat them respectfully, humanely, without threat, coercion, false reporting or oppressive treatment.

Mr Thomas said the independent report and government action plan would contribute to delivering that and make improvements where necessary.

Mr Karran had also sought an unreserved apology for the parents for substandard treatment and unethical practices and the Minister said: ’Today, I express regret for any trauma alongside thanking everyone involved for contributing to making future provision more consistent through selfless participation in this independent investigation.’

The report, led by Paul Burnett, independent chairman of the Safeguarding Children Board, and social worker Bridget Griffin, contains a raft of recommendations.

These include the need for politicians to show better leadership and for complaints procedures to be improved.

But one of the families who gave evidence to an inquiry into the family services division has said they are ’deeply concerned’ at the quality of the independent inquiry report, claiming it is biased towards recognising areas of good performance at the expense of the ’really poor’.

They had urged Tynwald not to accept the report or approve the action plan.

Mr Thomas told the court that it wasn’t for any politician to attribute blame but what really mattered was the outcome to improve the quality of life for children, young people and vulnerable adults and families at risk and in need.

Health and Social Care Minister Kate Beecroft said the children and family services was ’emerging from a dark place’ and she was committed to making further improvements.

But she pointed out that the inquiry found no evidence of falsification or deliberate suppression of information.

Ramsey MHK Alex Allinson said it was an ’open and honest’ report but he was ’rather underwhelmed’ by the action plan drawn up in response.

He tabled an amendment that progress reviews of the action plan are made public and are referred to the social affairs policy review committee.

’It is essential we learn from complaints and previous mistakes.

’It is essential that the voices and concerns of children, young people and their families are heard.

’We can no longer allow them to be drowned out by failing process and bureaucracy.’

Tynwald unamimously approved the motion, as amended by Dr Allinson, to receive the independent report and approve the action plan.