Opinion poll shows impact of Baby P case on protecting children

The first indications of the impact of the fallout from the Baby P case will be unveiled at a major Local Government Association conference on child protection

A new poll commissioned by the LGA and carried out by ComRes has found that:

42% of people say their opinion of child social workers has got worse since the tragic case of Baby P 52% of people would recommend social work as a career for a family member or friend – compared to just 39% of people who would recommend social work as a career for their own child, from the poll in December 78% would support more resources being given to local councils' children's social servicesThe poll also found that people are more likely to think that protecting children at risk is a greater responsibility of individuals than the state. Just less than two thirds of people (62%) think that ‘friends, family and neighbours’ should have most responsibility when it comes to protecting a child at risk living at home with its parents. 35% of people think that ‘social workers, police, teachers and doctors’ should have the most responsibility.

The polling has reinforced the fear of council leaders that the fallout from the Baby P case will lead to a decline in respect for child social workers, an increase in departures from the profession and a difficulty in attracting new candidates. The LGA fears that this could lead to wider gaps in the child protection safety net and a greater chance of a case of child abuse being missed.

Figures recently published in the LGA publication "Respect and Protect" show that:

One in ten child social worker post are vacant at any one time Of those councils who experience recruitment difficulties, 89% had trouble recruiting experienced child social workers Around 5,500 child social workers are agency staff A survey of councils carried out by the Local Government Association, Improvement and Development Agency and Local Government Employers between July and September of 2008 found that :

Two in three reported problems recruiting children’s social workers, almost double the number reporting problems recruiting adult social workers Four in ten reported problems in retaining children’s social workers compared to one in four reporting problems retaining adult social workersTo help make sure that children are protected as well as possible, the LGA has launched its 3Rs campaign to help improve respect, increase retention and enhance recruitment of child social workers.

Ahead of the conference on child protection, Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

“There are real difficulties for councils in recruiting and retaining high calibre child social worker staff. We must look to the future and recruit and retain staff so that they can protect the most vulnerable children in society. There should be a long term commitment by all those who support social workers to prove to people that we now need them more than ever if we are to protect children from abuse at the hands of dangerous individuals.

“Being a child social worker is one of the toughest jobs in Britain. Encouraging back those who have been at the frontline tirelessly working to save the lives of vulnerable children is key to helping plug the gaps and ensure that we, as a nation, can do everything we can to keep them safe.

“The recent sad events of Baby P shine a light on the onerous responsibility councils bear in working with the most vulnerable children and families, and the equally onerous responsibility we ask children’s social workers to carry on our behalf. It is a tough job to do and for councils it is the toughest job to fill.

“Councils are under pressure to keep council tax down but at the same time demands on many services are rising. These pressures on resources as we are drawn further into the recession will only increase.

“Striving to maintain the status quo is not nearly good enough; we have to aspire to reduce the numbers of children who suffer and die in this country as a result of abuse and neglect, and we must never be complacent about the need to do more to improve the services that work with the children at greatest risk.

“There are no simple or easy answers to the challenge of protecting the most vulnerable children, only a relentless focus on doing the best we possibly can, at every level and in every service.”

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