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| At risk children 'being ignored' | At risk children 'being ignored' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A social worker at Doncaster Council claims the cases of at least 60 children who may be at risk are being ignored because of a backlog of work. | A social worker at Doncaster Council claims the cases of at least 60 children who may be at risk are being ignored because of a backlog of work. |
| Serious case reviews have been ordered into the deaths of seven children who have died in Doncaster since 2004 in cases involving abuse or neglect. | Serious case reviews have been ordered into the deaths of seven children who have died in Doncaster since 2004 in cases involving abuse or neglect. |
| Last month Ofsted branded children's services in the town "inadequate". | |
| The social worker, whose identity is being protected, said between 60 and 100 referrals had not been looked at. | |
| The worker told BBC News: "I would say that there are neglect issues, lots and lots of neglect issues, that have not been dealt with because no-one's opened up the cases to actually start doing any analysis of what they've got in front of them. | |
| "Some of those could be children that are in need of protection." | "Some of those could be children that are in need of protection." |
| December's Ofsted report said of the 317 children on the local protection register, one in four had not been allocated a social worker. | December's Ofsted report said of the 317 children on the local protection register, one in four had not been allocated a social worker. |
| 'Want the best' | 'Want the best' |
| It also said that most of the town's children's homes failed to meet minimum national standards. | It also said that most of the town's children's homes failed to meet minimum national standards. |
| The council told BBC News that the situation had improved since the Ofsted inspection, and that every child in need now had a social worker. | The council told BBC News that the situation had improved since the Ofsted inspection, and that every child in need now had a social worker. |
| Dr Paul Gray, director of Doncaster children's service, said work was still ongoing to get five homes up to standard. | Dr Paul Gray, director of Doncaster children's service, said work was still ongoing to get five homes up to standard. |
| He said: "We have a very robust set of action plans for the five homes to make sure that within the next four months they are up to standard. | He said: "We have a very robust set of action plans for the five homes to make sure that within the next four months they are up to standard. |
| "I don't want inadequate homes, I don't want an adequate children's service. | "I don't want inadequate homes, I don't want an adequate children's service. |
| "I want the best children's service in the country for Doncaster. That is what Doncaster people deserve and that is what we can build." | "I want the best children's service in the country for Doncaster. That is what Doncaster people deserve and that is what we can build." |
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| Doncaster social worker speaks | Doncaster social worker speaks |