News

Are government plans to scrap the child protection register sensible?

Kierra Box - Young people's activist
I hope that integration will lead to better care. But I worry that we are phasing out government responsibility to safeguard those at risk without building in extra support. It should not be a case of equalising protection at the lowest common level, but of providing more intelligent, supportive and responsive care to all young people.

Richard West - Inspired Services
It is important children are safe but the register did not help parents with learning difficulties. Parents could only obtain support if their children were on the register, but often they were only put on the register when there was a crisis and social services had decided to remove the child. The new system needs to make sure all families get support.

Angie Lawrence - Single mother
The child protection register's problem was that it could not help but fail children who were not on it. But it would be wise to keep the register in place until the electronic recording of children's social care records has been up and running for some time. At least until it is seen to be functioning well enough to highlight any concerns with particular children.


Kerry Evans - Parent of two severely autistic sons
I'd like to see a league table of services delivered rather than abandon the register. Risk assessments give an impression of a proactive approach without delivering. Social workers only have a duty to record and not act on protection issues, so until this is addressed it makes little difference how cases are recorded.