News

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

BBC1, episode five (of six),

14 December 2004, 10.35pm

Star Rating: 4/5

This was another powerful episode about social work in Bristol children's services. The programme highlighted the stress placed on workers dealing with child abuse, writes Melanie Howes.

The theme of this episode was denial by parents of their children's injuries and abuse. Jo, a hospital social worker, was faced with Daniel, a seven-year-old boy with a fractured wrist. Neither parent seemed concerned about his injury. Without a family history or support from her back-up team, Jo could not bring the case to a satisfactory conclusion.

Jo's second case was a shaken baby who died in the hospital. The baby had been left in the care of his father, a schedule one offender, by the mother. The trauma of the situation placed a huge weight on Jo's shoulders.
We also saw a four-year-old boy living in squalor with his parents. The family was helped by Frances, a social worker in the community team. The antagonistic attitude and verbal abuse of the parents towards Frances and the difficulties in finding a suitable placement complicated the process of meeting the boy's needs.

The programme highlighted that behind every abused child there is likely to be a history of abuse, neglect, domestic violence and needy parents. One was left thinking that, apart from the distress and pain children face, the trauma of dealing with child abuse inevitably leaves workers vulnerable to stress and burnout.

Melanie Howes is a social worker for children's services, Cornwall Council.