Record number of calls to child social services
THE number of calls to child social services in Birmingham is now at record levels, with more than 1,000 contacts every week from schools, health professionals and the public.
Children’s trust chief executive Andy Couldrick said the service was under immense pressure, but coping, as it battles to keep youngsters safe and support families in crisis.
Social workers, most with around 20 cases on their books at a time, are showing extraordinary resilience to support families already on their radar while investigating new reports, he said.
Millions more in funds to increase and retain the workforce needed to prevent families slipping into chaos would make a positive difference, he said.
“We are currently getting around 1,000 contacts a week, with about 20 per cent repeat contacts or referrals (calls about the same child or family),” said Mr Couldrick.
The contact levels have been slowly rising for some time as professionals, relatives and neighbours seek advice and support, and in some cases urgent intervention.
The recent shocking local cases of little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, Hakeem Hussain and Kemarni Watson Darby will almost certainly have played a part in more coming forward.
All three youngsters died as a result of failings by their parents – in the cases of Arthur and Kemarni, they were murdered by people meant to be looking after them, while Hakeem died as a result of his drug addict mother’s negligence. But in each of those cases, alarms were raised or there were missed opportunities to intervene.
Mr Couldrick: “Cases like Arthur, and Hakeem, are relatively rare and, sadly have always existed. No system can be completely safe.
“We are getting more contacts and referrals than we have ever had, from a variety of different sources, from schools and from family members. This is good as it means we are alert to the issues facing that family.
“There are key elements that drive concerns and the most prominent is domestic abuse.
“Children witnessing, and being on the receiving end of, domestic abuse is a huge concern.
“Then there are concerns about older young people – often parents themselves will raise concerns about risks of harm outside the home and about safeguarding concerns linked to gangs, youth violence or other forms of exploitation.
“Sometimes contact with us will be about something that is very clear information that we can act on quickly – for example, when a child says something to a teacher which triggers a concern.”