Four in ten people have a lower opinion of children's social
workers as a result of the Baby P case, a
Local Government
Association survey published today has found.
However, the survey of 1,000 adults conducted this week also
found strong support for the profession and for increased resources
for services.
Key results included:-
- 54% agreed that children's social services were effective in
protecting children, while 21% disagreed.
- 82% agreed children's social workers knew more about children's
needs than politicians did. Nine per cent disagreed.
- 78% supported more resources for local council children's
services, while 8% did not.
- 52% would recommend a career in social work to a friend or
family member, while 43% would not.
The last result compares to a similar survey in December,
conducted one month after the Baby P trial concluded, which found
just 39% of people would recommend a career in social work to a
child.
Since December, there has also been a decline, from 68% to 58%,
in the proportion of people who thought social workers were
responsible "to a great extent" for protecting children. Meanwhile,
there was an increase from 80% to 85% in the proportion who thought
families were responsible for child protection to a great
extent.
Respondents appeared to believe that problems in children's
social work were concentrated in certain authorities with 78%
agreeing that some local children's social services were much worse
than others.
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