Ex-social workers urged to return

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Council leaders are launching the first national campaign to recruit child social workers as there are fears the current shortage will leave more children at risk.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said it fears high profile cases like the death of Baby P will aggravate the on-going shortage.

The 17-month-old boy died in August 2007 at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger although he had been seen numerous times by social workers and health professionals in Haringey, north London.

The LGA said it fears cases like the death of Baby P will further reduce respect for child social workers, prompting a wave of departures from the profession and adding to the difficulty in attracting new candidates.

This could lead to a greater chance of child abuse being missed, a spokesman said.

The LGA's new report, Respect and Protect, said: "The fallout from the devastating case of Baby P is still being felt.

"Historical evidence shows that as respect for child social workers declines, people who were looking at child protection as their chosen career think again.

"Many long-standing experienced professionals may also decide enough is enough and leave. Just when we need to be tightening the safety net to do our best never to repeat the mistakes that contributed to the death of Baby P there becomes an increased danger that the gaps widen as people decide it's time to get out."

The report said one in 10 child social worker posts are vacant at any one time and around 5,500 child social workers are agency staff.