RBH board slammed for backing him before U-turn
THE family of Awaab Ishak - who died aged two after prolonged exposure to damp and mould in his home have reacted to the news housing association boss Gareth Swarbrick has been ‘removed’ from his role, saying the fact he was sacked instead of resigning ‘speaks volumes’ to them.
They said they found it ‘wholly unacceptable’ the board of Rochdale Boroughwide Housing had ‘expressed confidence’ in its now ousted chief executive just 48 hours earlier.
In a statement at a vigil held for Awaab in Rochdale, the family thanked the public for their support, saying it had ‘kept them strong’.
And they called for support for our sister paper the Manchester Evening News’ campaign for Awaab’s Law - signatories on our petition have now reached almost 70,000.
The family spoke as politicians also reacted to Mr Swarbrick’s sacking, with the leader of Rochdale Council saying he was ‘responsible for the whole organisation’ and it was the ‘right decision’.
The family’s barrister, Christian Weaver, read out a statement on their behalf as large crowds attending the vigil.
It said: “Awaab’s family had hoped that following the remarks of the coroner at the closing of the inquest into their son’s death - namely that this should be a ‘defining moment’ for the housing sector - that immediate action would be taken by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing (RBH).
“The family were deeply saddened that following this inquest, RBH did nothing but express their confidence in their chief executive Gareth Swarbrick, despite in the court room, doing everything to indicate that significant changes would be made.
“The fact that RBH’S chief executive had to be sacked as opposed to resign, for the family speaks volumes.
“However, they find it wholly unacceptable that the board expressed confidence in him the first place.
“The family still feels that much more needs to be done and a further statement will be released in due course.
“Nonetheless in the meantime, the family would like to thank the public for their support.
“It has kept them strong at a time when they have felt at their weakest.
“They feel the public support has played a vital role in RBH’S chief executive being sacked.
“The family would now urge you to go online and sign the petition calling for an Awaab’s law.
“Awaab’s death must not be in vain. They do not want any other family to go through the devastation that they have.”
Mr Swarbrick - who was paid £170,000 in the year Awaab died - was facing growing calls to stand down, but said only on Thursday that he would not resign.
He said the organisation’s board had given him ‘their full backing and trust to continue to oversee the improvements and changes needed’.
Rochdale Boroughwide Housing however - which was criticised at the inquest into Awaab’s death - said at the weekend it recognised his position was ‘no longer tenable’.
A coroner ruled the toddler died after prolonged exposure to damp and mould at his home.
His death was branded a ‘defining moment’ for the housing sector as the inquest heard action to treat and prevent the mould was not taken by the housing association, despite repeated pleas from Awaab’s family.
Mr Swarbrick was told to quit by Rochdale Council in the aftermath of the inquest and Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said it ‘beggars belief ’ he was still in a job.
In a statement on Saturday, the housing organisation said: “The Board has taken the decision to remove Gareth Swarbrick from his post as Chief Executive of RBH with immediate effect.
“We will now work to appoint an external Interim Chief Executive.
“Our original instincts were for Gareth to stay on to see the organisation through this difficult period and to make the necessary changes, but we all recognise that this is no longer tenable.
“The coroner noted that RBH had made changes as a result of the tragic death of Awaab.
“Under new leadership RBH will continue to embed these changes and to continue to drive further improvements to our homes and to our communications with tenants.
“We are committed to sharing what we have learnt about the impact to health of damp, condensation and mould with the social housing sector, and to supporting sector wide changes.
“We will work with other agencies local and national and with central government in implementing the wider changes recommended to them by the coroner.
“As an organisation we are deeply sorry for the death of Awaab and devastated that it happened in one of our homes.
“We must ensure this can never happen again.
“His death needs to be a wake-up call for everyone in housing, social care and health.”
The Observer understands RBH staff have been told to ‘respect’ Mr Swarbrick’s ‘privacy and space at the moment’.
The board are said to be ‘working to appoint the right interim chief executive’, with staff due an update ‘in the next few weeks’.
Meanwhile, a briefing for all staff was due to be held at 10am on Monday, followed by individual meetings with managers, we understand.
Rochdale Council leader Neil Emmott, meanwhile, told Sky News it was the ‘right decision’.
He said: “He was responsible for the entire organisation, he was handsomely paid for that and I think it’s important to recognise that.
“I’m glad that the board of RBH has taken the right decision.
“It’s a strange decision because only 48 hours ago they were backing Mr Swarbrick to the hilt.”
A Government source said that the removal of Mr Swarbrick was “welcome”, but the board still had questions to answer.
The source said: “It is welcome that Gareth Swarbrick has been removed for his profound failings as RBH CEO, but RBH and their board still have very serious questions to answer.
“Why did they give him their full backing after the coroner’s report and as recently as 24 hours ago?
“And why have they failed to answer basic questions about the state of their housing stock?
“The Secretary of State for Levelling Up will continue to take a very close interest in RBH and will stand up for tenants as necessary.”