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Red tape fears for child services Red tape fears for child services
(about 1 hour later)
By Ingibjorg Thordardottir BBC News Baby P's death prompted another review of England's social servicesBy Ingibjorg Thordardottir BBC News Baby P's death prompted another review of England's social services
On Thursday, the government's expert on children's services, Lord Laming, will outline how he thinks his own recommendations for change have been implemented following the Victoria Climbie case.On Thursday, the government's expert on children's services, Lord Laming, will outline how he thinks his own recommendations for change have been implemented following the Victoria Climbie case.
He is also expected to say what more can be done to protect England's vulnerable children.He is also expected to say what more can be done to protect England's vulnerable children.
But social workers worry that with so many high-profile cases - such as the deaths of Baby P in Haringey and Baby A in Doncaster - the government will feel pressured to order another complete overhaul.But social workers worry that with so many high-profile cases - such as the deaths of Baby P in Haringey and Baby A in Doncaster - the government will feel pressured to order another complete overhaul.
The public outcry about how the cases were handled and the conduct of the social workers involved put the spotlight back on children's services in England.The public outcry about how the cases were handled and the conduct of the social workers involved put the spotlight back on children's services in England.
One social worker who declined to be named told the BBC: "If whenever a child dies we are going to re-invent the system it's not helpful because we spend the next five years or however long it takes getting to grips with the new system. That is not going to help with protecting children."One social worker who declined to be named told the BBC: "If whenever a child dies we are going to re-invent the system it's not helpful because we spend the next five years or however long it takes getting to grips with the new system. That is not going to help with protecting children."
Climbie legacyClimbie legacy
The horrific death of Victoria Climbie in Haringey in February 2000 brought about a complete change in the way social services operate in England.The horrific death of Victoria Climbie in Haringey in February 2000 brought about a complete change in the way social services operate in England.
The extensive inquiry conducted by Lord Laming made 108 recommendations, most of which were adopted in the 2004 Children's Act and Every Child Matters policies. The emphasis on prevention rather than protection has overloaded the social services with paperwork Liz DaviesLecturer and social worker Lord Laming's 2003 inquiryThe extensive inquiry conducted by Lord Laming made 108 recommendations, most of which were adopted in the 2004 Children's Act and Every Child Matters policies. The emphasis on prevention rather than protection has overloaded the social services with paperwork Liz DaviesLecturer and social worker Lord Laming's 2003 inquiry
Social workers now want him to reassert that the Every Child Matters policy is the right one - but look in more detail at certain aspects of the policy that could be tweaked.Social workers now want him to reassert that the Every Child Matters policy is the right one - but look in more detail at certain aspects of the policy that could be tweaked.
"We believe that this is the right context in which child protection should operate - integrated services allow early identification and intervention for those who need them," Dr Maggie Atkinson, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, told the BBC."We believe that this is the right context in which child protection should operate - integrated services allow early identification and intervention for those who need them," Dr Maggie Atkinson, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services, told the BBC.
Among the key areas some professionals in the field of social care would like to see reviewed are:
  • Increased red tape and a lack of resources
  • Multi-agency co-operation, especially the lack of joint investigation involving police and social workers
  • The decision to replace the Child Protection Register in April 2008 and the introduction of the new database ContactPoint
  • Training and support mechanisms for social workers
 Among the key areas some professionals in the field of social care would like to see reviewed are:
  • Increased red tape and a lack of resources
  • Multi-agency co-operation, especially the lack of joint investigation involving police and social workers
  • The decision to supercede the Child Protection Register in April 2008 with new database ContactPoint
  • Training and support mechanisms for social workers
In a recent speech Children's Secretary Ed Balls said there was strong support for the introduction of the new ContactPoint database. He listed many organisations he said were in favour of the system.In a recent speech Children's Secretary Ed Balls said there was strong support for the introduction of the new ContactPoint database. He listed many organisations he said were in favour of the system.
Serious concernsSerious concerns
Every Child Matters shifted the emphasis of social work in England to a broad safeguarding agenda where prevention and early intervention were the key elements.Every Child Matters shifted the emphasis of social work in England to a broad safeguarding agenda where prevention and early intervention were the key elements.
In fact the word protection hardly features in the document.In fact the word protection hardly features in the document.
RECENT CHILD DEATHS Baby P, 17 months old: Died in Haringey in 2007. Baby A, 10 months old: Died in Doncaster in December 2007 Brandon Muir, 23 months old: Died in Dundee in March 2008. Baby P council pleads for staff'Chaotic council' fails baby boyMan convicted of Brandon killing.RECENT CHILD DEATHS Baby P, 17 months old: Died in Haringey in 2007. Baby A, 10 months old: Died in Doncaster in December 2007 Brandon Muir, 23 months old: Died in Dundee in March 2008. Baby P council pleads for staff'Chaotic council' fails baby boyMan convicted of Brandon killing.
Although many in social work have embraced the policy - the sacked director of children's services in Haringey, Sharon Shoesmith, told the BBC she still believed in it - others voice serious concerns.Although many in social work have embraced the policy - the sacked director of children's services in Haringey, Sharon Shoesmith, told the BBC she still believed in it - others voice serious concerns.
In its evidence to the latest Lord Laming review, the NSPCC said it was worried the emphasis on prevention "could inadvertently have had the consequences of reducing the focus on protecting the most vulnerable children".In its evidence to the latest Lord Laming review, the NSPCC said it was worried the emphasis on prevention "could inadvertently have had the consequences of reducing the focus on protecting the most vulnerable children".
Liz Davies, a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan University and a social worker, says family support and child protection should not be considered as an 'either or' approach.Liz Davies, a senior lecturer at London Metropolitan University and a social worker, says family support and child protection should not be considered as an 'either or' approach.
Instead it should be left to the social worker to decide which route should be followed.Instead it should be left to the social worker to decide which route should be followed.
It should not, she added, be dictated by government targets.It should not, she added, be dictated by government targets.
"The emphasis on prevention rather than protection has overloaded the children services with paperwork and data entry and social workers are now looking into low-level 'concern' cases that would be better dealt with by other professionals.""The emphasis on prevention rather than protection has overloaded the children services with paperwork and data entry and social workers are now looking into low-level 'concern' cases that would be better dealt with by other professionals."
Doncaster council has come under fire for shortcomings in social servicesDoncaster council has come under fire for shortcomings in social services
The serious case review into the death of Baby A in Doncaster found social workers with "unmanageable workloads".The serious case review into the death of Baby A in Doncaster found social workers with "unmanageable workloads".
It said 10 referrals were made to children services about fears for the safety of the baby boy and his sibling, but that the response had been "grossly inadequate".It said 10 referrals were made to children services about fears for the safety of the baby boy and his sibling, but that the response had been "grossly inadequate".
A social worker speaking on condition of anonymity suggested to the BBC that social workers were spending as much as 80% of their time dealing with paperwork and only 20% on practical social work.A social worker speaking on condition of anonymity suggested to the BBC that social workers were spending as much as 80% of their time dealing with paperwork and only 20% on practical social work.
She added that the extra caseload was causing delay in vulnerable children being given a child protection plan - often by months.She added that the extra caseload was causing delay in vulnerable children being given a child protection plan - often by months.
Early interventionEarly intervention
Much of the caseload has been added since the introduction of the Common Assessment Framework, say professionals working in this sector.Much of the caseload has been added since the introduction of the Common Assessment Framework, say professionals working in this sector.
The idea behind it is simple - an assessment should be completed by community professionals such as health, education or youth workers. They would then deal with the early intervention and only if necessary should they refer cases to social services.The idea behind it is simple - an assessment should be completed by community professionals such as health, education or youth workers. They would then deal with the early intervention and only if necessary should they refer cases to social services.
But after Baby P's death there has been a sharp increase in these referrals as community workers opt to pass the case straight to children services rather than doing the early intervention work for which the system was designed.But after Baby P's death there has been a sharp increase in these referrals as community workers opt to pass the case straight to children services rather than doing the early intervention work for which the system was designed.
With public confidence in the sector at a low, BASW chief executive Ian Johnston believes that social workers are more in need of trust and support than ever before.With public confidence in the sector at a low, BASW chief executive Ian Johnston believes that social workers are more in need of trust and support than ever before.
One social worker told the BBC: "All social workers have sympathy with what happened in Haringey - it could happen to anyone. There is always a risk and there are near-misses we all recognise and accept that.One social worker told the BBC: "All social workers have sympathy with what happened in Haringey - it could happen to anyone. There is always a risk and there are near-misses we all recognise and accept that.
"There is no science to what we do - we make calls and have to hope they are the right ones."There is no science to what we do - we make calls and have to hope they are the right ones.
"It can be really difficult - you're damned if you do and damned if you don't.""It can be really difficult - you're damned if you do and damned if you don't."