Review to focus on social workers

An independent review is set to examine ways of freeing social workers from bureaucracy to improve child protection and safety in England

Prof Eileen Munro, from the London School of Economics, will carry out a "fundamental review of the system" ordered by the Government to strengthen the role of social workers.

Ministers also confirmed the Government's commitment to publish summaries of Serious Case Reviews (SCRs), which are carried out when a child dies or is seriously harmed.

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And the ContactPoint database, which contains the details of all children in England for access by professionals including doctors and teachers, will be scrapped as soon as possible.

The changes follow a number of high profile cases in recent years that have highlighted failings in the protection of young people.

In a written statement, Children's Minister Tim Loughton said: "The child protection system in our country is not working as well as it should.

"It is the Government's view that we need a fundamental review of the system and to ask ourselves what will help professionals to make the best judgments they can to protect vulnerable children."

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He said social workers should be in a "better position to make sound judgments, based on first hand evidence, in the best interests of children, free from unnecessary bureaucracy and regulation".

Education Secretary Michael Gove has given Prof Munro a "broad remit" so she is able to consider a wide range of issues.

Mr Loughton said: "Three principles will underpin the Government's approach to reform of child protection – early intervention; trusting professionals and removing bureaucracy so they can spend more time on the frontline; and greater transparency and accountability."

He said the publication of SCR overview reports was a "sensitive and complex matter" as they contained personal information which needed to be protected.

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But he added: "There is an important balance to be struck between transparency and openness so that lessons can be learned, and the protection and welfare of individuals.

"We believe that publication to the extent that we are proposing is reasonable and in the greater public interest."

Mr Loughton confirmed his intention to release SCRs into the case of Baby P and other recent high profile cases including that of the Edlington brothers, jailed last year for an "appalling and terrible" attack on two boys.

Prof Munro has been asked to consider how SCRs can be strengthened and whether there are "alternative learning models that could be more effective and efficient".

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But the NSPCC urged the Government to consult widely before starting to publish SCRs in full.

Chief executive of the charity Andrew Flanagan said: ""The best interests of the children and their families must always come first. There clearly has to be more accountability within the child protection system.

"The Government should now talk with experts, abused children and their families on how this is best achieved."

Prof Munro said the system had been so focused on meeting guidelines the "skill" of social work was overlooked.

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"Doing things by the book is not enough in child protection," she added. "There's a lot of good material in the bureaucracy but there's an awful lot that has overwhelmed it. It's just mushroomed out of control.."

Labour Shadow Education Secretary Ed Balls said: "After the tragedy of Baby Peter, I'd be the first to admit I wish I'd moved more quickly on social work reform.

"We did a huge amount of work – the Social Work Taskforce was a review done by the profession, driven by social workers themselves.

"I fear that another review will actually put on hold and hold back a lot of really important social work driven reforms which we need now."