CC Live: Hounslow children’s services chief says social work specialisation is causing knowledge gaps

May 18, 2007 in Children, Fostering and adoption, Workforce

Specialisation within social work is leading to “big gaps in knowledge”, assistant director of children’s services at Hounslow Council, Chris Hogan said yesterday.

This is causing problems when children’s social workers need to assist the parents of children they work with, Hogan told a session on looked-after children’s services and the Care Matters green paper at Community Care LIVE.

Hogan criticised the controversial proposal in the green paper for councils to contract out services for looked-after children to independent social care practices, saying there was “little evidence” to support it.

British Association for Adoption and Fostering chief executive David Holmes said Care Matters was “relatively light” on the vital issue of the children’s workforce, which needs to be addressed when the follow-up white paper appears.

Essential information on adoption and fostering