Children receiving social care services rate their social workers highly

Most children receiving social care rate their social workers highly but many are unhappy about them breaking promises and multiple changes of practitioner, a report this week finds.

The study by children’s rights director Dr Roger Morgan found that, of 500 children and young people surveyed, the median rating for social workers was 8 out of 10.

But focus groups with around 90 children found many had experienced broken promises by social workers and said this was the main thing they needed to change.

The report added: “Many people told us that they felt that as soon as they got used to a new social worker, they left and you had to try to get used to someone else.”

A separate report by Scottish children’s charity Children First said children in the country’s child protection system did not trust social workers to act on their concerns or involve them in decision making.