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when it all goes terribly wrong, the spotlight is turned on the social workers. They have been trying to spin the plates as quickly as they can. But if you don’t give the plates the time and attention they need, they inevitably will fall over and something terrible will happen.”
Social workers were blasted in the aftermath of Peter Connelly’s tragic death in 2007, after vital warning signs that could have saved the tot’s life were missed.
Known as Baby P, the 17-month-old suffered heartbreaking brutality at the hands of his mum Tracey Connelly, her partner Steven Barker and his Another revealed her typical brother Jason Owen. caseload was between 45 and 50 Other cases since – children, while one man said he including the 2014 was now looking after 37 children. murder of Ayeeshia The UK average is 18 cases. Jane Smith by her mum Kathryn –
Prof Ray Jones, an ex-director of have also focused on missed opportunities social services, said the child to take children into care. protection system was on the brink Referrals to children’s social of “implosion”. services rose by nearly 25,000 in just
He said: “Cases are being closed one year in 2017 – from 621,470 to down too early so new referrals can 646,120. It’s the equivalent to one be taken on. Some families are then child referred to social services likely to slip through the net – and every 49 seconds. The number of OVERLOADED social workers are keeping an eye on up to 60 at-risk children each – sparking fears of another Baby P horror.
Burnt-out child protection workers have reacted furiously to new official figures which “seriously underestimate” their workload.
Government stats claim the average social worker in England has around 18 vulnerable children on his or her books.
That has caused an explosion of anger online. One social worker, who called himself Mr Ever Hopeful, revealed he had 64 cases, adding: “I don’t want a medal. I just want a job to be manageable.”
TERRIBLE
children under child protection plans has also shot up – from 50,310 in 2016 to 51,080 children last year.
Prof Jones said referrals were up as more families struggled with cuts to welfare. And 40 per cent cuts to council budgets hasn’t helped. “There’s more work with no rise in the number of social workers to deal with it,” said Prof Jones. “They are exhausted and there is a high turnover.”
A recent survey by the British Association of Social Workers and the Social Workers Union found more than half of the 1,200 children’s social workers polled planned to quit.
UNISON head of local government Heather Wakefield said: “Social workers are under unbearable pressure. This situation can no longer be ignored” Cllr Richard Watts, chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, said: ““We urge the Government to fully fund children’s services.”
Cases are closed too early. Then families slip through the net PROF RAY JONES ON RISKS OF CUTS