A WOMAN who heads Bradford's Safeguarding Children Board has been removed from the role after it emerged she had been sacked from her main job with Leicester City Council.

Elaine McHale has agreed with Bradford Council that she should be temporarily removed from the role while enquiries into the circumstances of her position continue.

That follows calls from the Conservative party in Bradford for a review of Miss McHale's "suitability" for her job in Bradford, which she was awarded last year.

The employment tangle emerged after it became clear Miss McHale had been sacked when "serious failings" in her department at Leicester City Council were identified in a draft of an Ofsted report.

She was appointed to Bradford's Safeguarding Board as chairman in October last year, while continuing her principal job as interim director of children's services in Leicester.

In the meantime, she moved to become director of adult social care in Leicester but has been removed by the council as a result of the Ofsted findings into children's services.

They surround a review of front line social workers last summer, which resulted in more than 30 staff leaving the service with the result that vulnerable children were left at risk.

When she was appointed to the Bradford role, concerns were raised because she had previously retired from a senior role at Wakefield Council more than two years previously, at the time four serious case reviews were being launched into the deaths of children in that city.

Council officials at the time refused to speculate over the reason for her leaving but confirmed it had been under discussion for some time.

A Bradford Council spokesman yesterday confirmed: "Bradford Safeguarding Children Board (BSCB) and Bradford Council have become aware that Elaine McHale's interim contract as Director of Adult Services at Leicester City Council has been terminated.

"Following discussions with Ms McHale, it has been agreed that she will be temporarily removed, without prejudice, from her position as independent chair of the BSCB whilst enquiries are ongoing.

"Ms McHale commenced her work for BSCB in October 2014. She was appointed by a multi-agency interview panel, and her post is funded from a partnership budget to which the Council, Health Trusts and West Yorkshire Police are the main contributors."

A Leicester Council spokesman added that Miss McHale had been recommended by a recruitment agency and concerns flagged by trade unions had not been supported by any evidence of wrongdoing.

Bradford Cllr Debbie Davies, Conservative group spokesman for children's services, said: “There were from the outset, serious concerns regarding Ms McHale’s appointment as Chairman of the Board.

"I suggested at the time, that her departure from Wakefield Council when four separate serious case reviews into the deaths of children were commencing, should raise a few concerns amongst those on the interview panel.

"I am requesting an urgent review of Ms McHale’s suitability for the post and also an independent review of how the appointment was and will be made in the future. I am sure that residents will share with my colleagues and I, a very deep concern about the events that have taken place".