Child protection services near crisis

A steep rise in vulnerable children needing protection over the past 10 years is pushing council children's services in England into crisis, suggests research to be published tomorrow.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-46049154

We are a rich nation, who should we blame for the above, Councils or Governments?

How about children service working with a similar structure to Academy schools?

Directly funded by Government, so the services can be held to account when they are performing poorly. Or, we could just give them more money, perhaps the problem is just money.

Thanks for the link, it makes for a very interesting read.

Thanks for the link, it makes for a very interesting read.

It also makes for a sad read. Numbers don't pick up on just how much some children suffer, and especially if its at the hands of their parents or other trusted family members, how this will affect them through their lives.

Perhaps there needs to be some exposure to the facts at an early age, part of school curriculum for mid teens, or before. Demonstrating that whilst having children can be fulfilling, it can be extremely hard for parents if they are young, lack money, lack work skills, don't have adequate housing, have little or no support. Obviously that wouldn't stop the need for intervention, but it might help reduce it.

Has there actually been a steep rise in the number of vulnerable children needing protection or has the system become more effective in identifying them ?

A steep rise in vulnerable children needing protection over the past 10 years is pushing council children's services in England into crisis, suggests research

 

We are a rich nation, who should we blame for the above, councils, government ?

 

How about the parents ?

Thanks for the link, it makes for a very interesting read.

We are all distracted by Brexit, although it is rarely big news for some strange reason.

---------- Post added 07-11-2018 at 10:52 ----------

 

How about the parents ?

So if its getting worse, is that because parents or Government are not doing their job properly?

As we get richer and more educated, shouldn't things be improving?

We are all distracted by Brexit, although it is rarely big news for some strange reason.

 

---------- Post added 07-11-2018 at 10:52 ----------

 

 

So if its getting worse, is that because parents or Government are not doing their job properly?

As we get richer and more educated, shouldn't things be improving?

You would have thought so. I don't see why it should be worsening.

We are all distracted by Brexit, although it is rarely big news for some strange reason.

 

---------- Post added 07-11-2018 at 10:52 ----------

 

 

So if its getting worse, is that because parents or Government are not doing their job properly?

As we get richer and more educated, shouldn't things be improving?

The reasons why some children get taken into care - because parents have mental health problems or learning difficulties; abuse or neglect; addiction problems, or parents in a violent relationship aren't causally related the amount of money a person has.

I think what is certainly true is that the cases that social workers are dealing with are much more complex, and over the last decade many services which would help ease the case load of social workers have been scaled back or closed down (I'm thinking in particular of mental health services and family services).

It may also be true that those who would've been supported by non statutory services prior to ancillary services being cut back, has meant that their situations have deteriorated so statutory services have had to become involved.

I remember reading a book years ago, written in the 1980s (IIRC by Jeremy Seabrook) which foresaw what would happen to vulnerable people if vulnerable people became more marginalised and society took a more hard nosed view on wider social and economic policies. In those respects at least, what he predicted came true

Could the fact there are now child protection staff in all schools be a reason things appear to be worsening? More identification leading to more reporting of abuse.

A steep rise in vulnerable children needing protection over the past 10 years is pushing council children's services in England into crisis, suggests research to be published tomorrow.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-46049154

 

We are a rich nation, who should we blame for the above, Councils or Governments?

 

How about children service working with a similar structure to Academy schools?

Directly funded by Government, so the services can be held to account when they are performing poorly. Or, we could just give them more money, perhaps the problem is just money.

Blame the government and its Austerity cuts.

Council Services starved of funds are being stretched to breaking point across a whole range of areas, and each has further knock on effects. Services have been cut and cut untill they can barely function and exist in name only.

Its in the news today, there is a fertility problem. Dr George Leeson, director of the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, says that does not have to be a bad thing, as long as the whole of society adjusts to the massive demographic change.

We have had a lot of immigration, but surely there must be fewer children, meaning fewer to go into care and needing help?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46118103

Terrible problem, and one that should be much higher up the pecking order.

The link shows demand has virtually doubled in 10 years. Funding per child has dropped in the same period (although it doesn't show overall funding)

It's intersting to also see the trend of the move away from care homes, to now mainly fostering.