Senior social care officer suspended...

The senior officer in charge of implementing trebling home care costs for some vulnerable elderly people in Lincolnshire has been suspended pending an investigation.

Jean Lammie, assistant director of adult social care at Lincolnshire County Council, stepped aside earlier this week while an investigation takes place - according to last night's Lincolnshire Echo.

Ms Lammie is responsible for care services for vulnerable adults. It was Ms Lammie who was left to present the controversial home care charging policy to the council's Executive last October.

The paper should have been presented by the Executive Member for Adult Social Care, Councillor Christine Talbot. But Christine failed to show up for the crucial meeting, preferring to spend her time instead at a Conservative Party Conference.

I have no idea why Ms Lammie has been suspended or what the internal investigation is about.

Ian Anderson, director for communities told the Echo:

I can confirm that Jean Lammie, assistant director adult social care (operations) has been suspended pending an internal investigation in adult social care.

It should be stressed that suspension is a neutral act and is being used solely to allow a comprehensive and objective investigation into the matter to take place.

I cannot make any further comment at this stage.

Adult Social Services has long been a troubled department at Lincolnshire County Council. Just last November, Lincolnshire was officially named as providing some of the worst adult social care in the country.

Then, Christine Talbot refused to resign - as she had promised to do if performance was not sorted out following a shocking inspection report a year earlier.