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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Social work transformation urged | Social work transformation urged |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The training and standing of social workers must be "transformed" to ensure the protection of society's most vulnerable children, Ed Balls has said. | The training and standing of social workers must be "transformed" to ensure the protection of society's most vulnerable children, Ed Balls has said. |
| The children's secretary, writing in the News of the World, said social workers needed to be "better prepared for the really difficult job they do". | The children's secretary, writing in the News of the World, said social workers needed to be "better prepared for the really difficult job they do". |
| A taskforce is to examine every aspect of social workers' training in England and will report to ministers next year. | |
| The move follows a damning report and public outcry over the case of Baby P. | The move follows a damning report and public outcry over the case of Baby P. |
| Social workers in Haringey, north London, had visited 17-month-old Baby P 60 times before he died in August 2007. | Social workers in Haringey, north London, had visited 17-month-old Baby P 60 times before he died in August 2007. |
| Mission | Mission |
| Mr Balls said £73m would be spent over three years in an attempt to raise standards. | Mr Balls said £73m would be spent over three years in an attempt to raise standards. |
| He believes that only by looking after and valuing social workers will the most talented people want to join the profession and stay. | He believes that only by looking after and valuing social workers will the most talented people want to join the profession and stay. |
| Mr Balls wrote: "We've got to do more to boost the standing of social workers in our country because protecting and supporting vulnerable children is a vital job. There's been a big emphasis on systems and review processes Ian JohnstonBritish Association of Social Workers | |
| "Over the last 10 years there has been a transformation in the standing of teaching as a profession. Teachers are now hugely respected and well-prepared to do their job. | "Over the last 10 years there has been a transformation in the standing of teaching as a profession. Teachers are now hugely respected and well-prepared to do their job. |
| "It must now be our mission to do the same thing for social workers." | "It must now be our mission to do the same thing for social workers." |
| Mr Balls added that fewer than one-third of social workers felt their course had prepared them to do their job. | |
| Among the ideas being proposed by the training taskforce is giving more hands-on experience to social workers and ensuring senior staff gain full experience in the departments they will lead. | Among the ideas being proposed by the training taskforce is giving more hands-on experience to social workers and ensuring senior staff gain full experience in the departments they will lead. |
| There is also a plan to ensure directors of children's services have had experience in both education and social work. | There is also a plan to ensure directors of children's services have had experience in both education and social work. |
| One of the criticisms levelled at the director of children's services in Haringey was that she had a strong background in education, but not in social work. | One of the criticisms levelled at the director of children's services in Haringey was that she had a strong background in education, but not in social work. |
| Sharon Shoesmith has since been suspended from her post on the orders of Mr Balls. | Sharon Shoesmith has since been suspended from her post on the orders of Mr Balls. |
| Other training proposals include more emphasis on learning on the job and the introduction of a new qualifying year, in which staff will get hands-on experience before they qualify fully. | Other training proposals include more emphasis on learning on the job and the introduction of a new qualifying year, in which staff will get hands-on experience before they qualify fully. |
| Ian Johnston, chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers, welcomed the announcement, but said he was wary of "knee-jerk reactions to individual cases".Sharon Shoesmith has been removed from her post but is on full pay | |
| "Whilst we learnt a great deal from the Victoria Climbie inquiry, some of the things that were put in with the best of intentions have, I think, proved to be counter-productive," he said. | |
| "I think there's been a big emphasis on systems and review processes at the expense of time spent face-to-face working with people who need the service." | |
| Damning report | Damning report |
| The Department for Children Schools and Families said this launch had been worked on for a while and had not been produced as a result of public outrage over the case of Baby P. | The Department for Children Schools and Families said this launch had been worked on for a while and had not been produced as a result of public outrage over the case of Baby P. |
| But a department spokeswoman acknowledged it had been part of a broader announcement due on Thursday which had been brought forward, in part reflecting public concern over the case. | But a department spokeswoman acknowledged it had been part of a broader announcement due on Thursday which had been brought forward, in part reflecting public concern over the case. |
| The case led to an investigation that produced a damning report on the workings of Haringey Council. | The case led to an investigation that produced a damning report on the workings of Haringey Council. |
| Among its criticisms, the report said there was a failure to identify children at immediate risk of harm and to act on evidence; insufficient supervision by senior management and poor child protection plans. | Among its criticisms, the report said there was a failure to identify children at immediate risk of harm and to act on evidence; insufficient supervision by senior management and poor child protection plans. |
| Baby P had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. | Baby P had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. |
| The three were convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey next year. | The three were convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey next year. |