Social workers speak out over child protection cuts

"We were told by a senior manager that our area has too many child protection cases and that it was above national average, so all cases had to be examined and downgraded."

“We were told by a senior manager that our area has too many child protection cases and that it was above national average, so all cases had to be examined and downgraded.”

“Limited protective factors were put in place for one child where she disclosed inappropriate touching. This is dangerous. I was taught ‘remove (reduce) risk and put protective factors in place’ – not leave the child there.”

“There’s pressure by team managers on a conference chair to end child protection plans so cases can be closed.”

“Several cases were reclassified to clear caseloads for each team to meet regulatory targets.”

“I did not concede to the pressure and recommended continued plans”

“Concerns over neglect, behavioural changes at school were referred by the education welfare officer. We got an interim care order with investigative evidence but were instructed to work with the family to return the child home regardless of f indings.”

“There is a drive to cut the number of children in care – all out-of-county placements are being examined; children are being removed from stable placements and returned to the family settings that originally led to their coming into care.”

“An email sent from a group manager to all staff stated that only cases which met the interim care order threshold should be taken to initial child protection conference.”

“A disabled child was returned to the care of the mother following significant neglect as no appropriate placement could be identified.”

“Foster carers asked for respite for a pre-booked holiday on which they could not take the children with them. Management decided to return the children home (to birth parents) instead. They were back in the care system within two months.”

“There’s pressure to remove children from child protection plans, even if there has been no improvement (but there has been no deterioration), and an increase in the chair giving direction to conference not to make children subject to plans.”

“There’s pressure on unqualified workers to perform statutory duties when not enough qualified workers available. This means electronic records are carefully managed to avoid showing unqualified worker involvement. Pressure everywhere is squeezing local authorities to a very dangerous point for children.”

“A child had been in care for several years with episodes of secure accommodation. After a meeting was arranged to identify which child could go home with the least risk, due to having to manage the residential care budget, the child was returned home and immediately resumed his behaviour.”

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