Eight point plan to tackle child protection ‘ticking time bomb’

A UNISON survey shows that without decisive action, it is only a matter of time before there is another Baby P tragedy.

The damning report (Still Slipping through the net? - Front-line staff assess children’s safeguarding process) shows social workers are struggling to cope due to vacant posts, increased caseloads and inexperienced staff thrown in at the deep end.

Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said, “Our survey shows that Child Protection Services are a ticking time bomb that could explode at any minute. There are not enough staff, caseloads are too big and social workers are spending 80% of their time on paperwork.

“Thanks to social workers many thousands of children have been saved from abuse and neglect, but it is a daily battle.

“They come under constant fire during high profile child abuse cases and many have seen an increase in threats of violence against them since the baby P case. There are already problems recruiting and retaining social workers, we cannot afford to lose any more. That is why UNISON is calling for an eight-point plan to be put into place in Scotland immediately.”

The plan calls for a national review of workloads, co-working on child protection visits, more social work and support staff, more resources, less bureaucracy, increase in resources to the Children’s Panel system, better support and more reflective practice and measures to rebuild morale, confidence and status of social workers.

See the full plan with a print-out version for notice boards at www.unison- scotland.org.uk/socialwork

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