National agency would ease child protection worries

A national child protection agency would help remove families’
uncertainties about whether staff were ‘investigating’ or
‘supporting’ them, the National Social Services Conference was
told, writes Janet Snell.

Lisa Harker, of the Institute for Public Policy Research
thinktank, said she was aware many social workers were against the
idea, but the status quo was not an option.

Harker launched the IPPR’s new vision document on the future of
social care in 2020, ‘From Welfare to Wellbeing’. She said
researchers had heard a range of views on what should happen with
children’s services.

Harker said: “Far from ghettoising child protection, if this
service had the right resources, training and incentives it could
help emphasise the importance of child protection skills.”

‘From Welfare to Wellbeing: The Future of Social Care’ is
available from 0845 4589911.