Cafcass notes sharp rise in care order applications
Cafcass Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas, has this
weekend written about the sharp rise in care order applications
following the publicity about the death of Baby P. In an article
written for the Observer newspaper Anthony Douglas also raises the
need to invest in social work as a profession.
In the Observer, Sunday 23rd
November, Anthony writes:
"Whilst it is too early to be definitive, we may already be
seeing a 'Baby P effect' in a reported increase in applications to
court by local authorities to protect children in many parts of
England, and in more cautious decision-making about contact
applications in some cases. This is hardly surprising. Negative
publicity usually leads to institutional risk aversion. This may
be, if confirmed, good news for those children who need greater
protection, and bad news for others who need more contact with a
wide range of family members, not less."
Click here to read this article in full.
Click
here to view related article 'Ofsted's child abuse report was
misleading'.
In the Independent Anthony commented that
the Baby P case had made social workers more cautious:
"It has caused a definite short-term bulge, as local authorities
review their thresholds." He said more active reviews of cases
would be good for vulnerable children, but warned that excessive
caution could cause untold damage to others. "It will be better for
some children, but it may not be for others, who would be better
cared forby family members or friends. Risk-averse decisions could
be damaging. If it protects one child who needs that extra level of
protection, then I'll be pleased," he said. "But if not, the
premature removal of a child from a family needs rectifying as soon
as possible."
Click here to read the Independent article in full.
Anthony Douglas also appeared on the Today programme on
Monday 24th November.