UNISON warns of ticking time bomb in child protection
(26/01/09) Without decisive action, it is only a matter of time before there is another Baby P tragedy, according to findings released by UNISON today.
The union has released a damning report showing that social workers are struggling to cope, due to vacant posts, increased caseloads and inexperienced staff thrown in at the deep end.
With 300,000 social care workers, including 40,000 social workers, the union is urging the immediate implementation of its 10-point plan, to help solve the problems.
"Our survey shows that the Child Protection Services are a ticking time bomb that could explode at any minute," said UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis.
"There are not enough staff, caseloads are too big and social workers are spending 80% of their time on paperwork. That is a lethal combination that will leave children exposed."
UNISON’s report, Still Slipping through the net? - Front-line staff assess children’s safeguarding process, comes six years after the Laming enquiry into the tragic death of Victoria Climbie, and just two months after the Old Bailey trial relating to the death of 17-month-old Baby P.
At the heart of the report is a survey of members working in children’s social work across the UK, which showed that:
- Six out of 10 respondents work in teams where more than 20% of posts are vacant;
- Three quarters reported that average caseloads have increased since 2003;
- Nearly 60% said staff who do not have a social work qualification, or are newly qualified, are more likely to be doing child protection work they are insufficiently trained or experienced for, than in 2003;
- 28% believe that there is less access to adequate supervision, with more than half saying it has simply remained the same;
- Half believe that social work services are now less well resourced than in 2003, with only 9% believing it is better.
- A third believe that the system has not improved over nearly six years.
"Thanks to social workers," said Mr Prentis, "many thousands of children have been saved from abuse and neglect, but it is a daily battle.
"They come under constant fire during high profile child abuse cases and many have seen an increase in threats of violence against them since the baby P case.
"There are already problems recruiting and retaining social workers. We cannot afford to lose any more.
"Without decisive action it is only a matter of time before there is another tragedy. We owe it to baby P and all those other children at risk to re-think the way that child protection is organised. That is why UNISON is calling for our 10-point plan to be put into place immediately."
UNISON’s 10-point plan calls for:
- Co-working on all child protection investigation visits;
- more social workers and support staff;
- national caseload management standards, enforced through the inspection process and regularly audited;
- more resources, with a planned programme of investment in children and families' social work;
- less bureaucracy
- homecare services for children and families, with homecare workers acting as "the eyes and ears" of social services;
- a complete overhaul of the Integrated Children's System;
- Review of legal processes, ensuring that resource constraints are not influencing legal proceedings and outcomes:
- Better support and more reflective practice. Social workers should have at least two years post-qualifying experience before being allocated child protection cases. There should be consistent, high quality supervision that is both supportive and challenging;
- Measures to rebuild morale, confidence and status of social workers.
The UNISON report was published at the same time that the government announced the members of a new social work taskforce, which include UNISON national officer Helga Pile.
Read the full report
Still slipping through the net? - PDF
Press release – Shocking social work survey shows child protection is 'ticking time bomb Press release – UNISON joins social work taskforce
