More than half of social workers and a third of police officers feel powerless to intervene in suspected cases of child neglect, a report has revealed.
The poll commissioned by Action For Children revealed while teachers, health workers and nursery staff are increasingly aware of child neglect they are often unsure what action should be taken.
More than 4,000 people, including the general public, professionals and 47 local authorities, took part in the research through polling and focus groups.
It found that 42 per cent of social workers questioned felt that the point at which they could intervene in cases of child neglect was too high.
For those children who did meet the level at which they could intervene, 52 per cent of social workers said a lack of resources was a barrier to taking action and 43 per cent of those questioned said the lack of support services prevented them from acting.
As well as social workers and police officers, primary school teachers and health visitors have shared with Action For Children their concerns over making referrals, with teachers reporting sleepless nights wondering what they should do in cases of suspected child neglect.
I know you may say, ‘well you would say that wouldn’t you?’ but the police are really the very last straw when it comes to neglected and abused kids.
We have emergency powers-sure…but they don’t last long and Social Services are ALWAYS consulted and are expected to take over asap…
What bakes my biscuit when I see headlines like this concerns the bullshit spouted about lack of powers…
Anyone, like me, that has been on the receiving end of a day out or ten in Family Court will tell you courts can, and will, lay down the law with dire consequences if you don’t comply…
I was threatened with imprisonment if I decided to disobey the ridiculous list of ‘directions’ my barmy ex had put on my contact…
I have seen enough judges to know he ment it too…
So enough with the BS eh?
We all know the issues with SS… too many stupid rules, not enough fire in their belly and years of ‘programming’ to say the ‘family is important’- heh… not as important as a child’s life though ….
NB
I note with interest that the critical shortage of foster carers is beginning to cause problems and the directorate are ‘looking into ways to address that’…
Mmm…
Well you could start by not treating every perspective couple as potential nonces…
That might be a start eh?
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There was a program a while ago about adoption. One couple were declined because ‘HE’ would have to take the kids to school and they wanted a couple where ‘SHE’ would take them, totally barmy.