Most children rate workers highly

Most children who receive social care rate their social workers highly but many are unhappy about them breaking promises and the 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 eight out of 10.

But focus groups of about 90 children found many had experienced broken promises by social workers and this needed to change.

The report said: “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. The report will be sent to the Scottish children’s commissioner.