Directors say departments are being ‘bombarded’ with referrals

Social services directors say their departments are facing a
‘bombardment’ of referrals and the number is rising
‘remorselessly’.

The Association of Directors of Social Services is to brief
journalists on the eve of the inquiry into the death of Victoria
Climbie later this month about the current plight of social
services.

A statement from the ADSS says the number of care orders has
increased by more than 50 per cent in recent years, and resource
allocations have failed to meet rising demand. There is also a
recruitment and retention crisis to contend with, the directors
say.

The statement describes the death of Victoria as ‘a significant
moment in the development of child care and child protection
services in the UK’.

Victoria was killed by her great aunt Marie-Therese Kouao and
boyfriend Carl Manning, who were sentenced to life for murder
earlier this year.

Two social workers working for Haringey council face
disciplinary action for their handling of the case after they have
given evidence to the inquiry.

The association is also planning to release the results of new
research into the impact on social services of the rise in the
number of unaccompanied children coming to the UK, and new figures
revealing the impact of the shortage of child care workers.