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Capital's shortage of social workers leads to child abuse fears
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent4 Feb 2009
CHILDREN are at risk of abuse as London faces a desperate shortage of social workers, the Standard can reveal.
In some boroughs, more than four out of 10 social work positions are vacant, with red tape and low morale blamed.
The figures, obtained by the Tories under the Freedom of Information Act, follow an outcry over the death of 17-month-old Baby P in Haringey. He suffered 50 injuries including a broken back during months of abuse by his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger.
Social workers, health staff and the police saw him 60 times during his short life but still could not save him.
There have been concerns that anger arising from the case will cause a shortage of staff willing to work in child protection. Haringey has appealed for help recruiting social workers to ease its staffing crisis in the wake of the scandal.
But today's figures show that even before the Baby P tragedy, London was facing a severe shortage of social workers to protect children and vulnerable adults.
The figures, based on a survey of one third of local authorities, revealed that in eight authorities across England - including Haringey - more than a third of social worker positions are vacant. The Tories have forced a debate about child protection in the House of Commons this afternoon.
Shadow children's minister Tim Loughton said: "Unsurprisingly, demoralised and exhausted experts are leaving and very few are coming in to fill their shoes. The profession badly needs a massive shot in the arm.
"Recent tragedies have shown us that at the moment there is too much form-filling and box-ticking."
Ministers have announced a taskforce to identify "barriers" social workers face in their work.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Children said: "Good record keeping is vital. But it is essential that social workers are able to do their jobs with the minimum of bureaucracy and they are able to achieve the right balance between maintaining their records and spending time with vulnerable families."
VACANT SOCIAL WORK POSITIONS
MORE than a third of local authorities in England – 52 - provided full figures to the Conservatives.
This table shows the percentage of social work positions vacant in London boroughs taking part in the survey.
Hackney 41.5%
Havering 33.9%
Waltham Forest 33.8%
Haringey 33.8%
Bexley 31.8%
Harrow 28.0%
Sutton 25.5%
Bromley 25.3%
Westminster 25.2%
Hammersmith & Fulham 21.0%
Greenwich 18.9%
Southwark 18.0%
Merton 17.4%
Corporation of London 17.0%
Richmond upon Thames 16.5%
Camden 16.5%
ENGLAND AVERAGE 14.6%
Tower Hamlets 11.4%
Barnet 11.1%
Enfield 11.0%
Barking & Dagenham 10.5%
Redbridge 7.8%
Kingston upon Thames 7.7%
Ealing 6.3%
Lambeth 6.0%
Lewisham 6.0%
Kensington & Chelsea 5.0%
Hounslow 3.9%
Reader views (8)
They should stop paying silly wages and bonuses on managers , then they could pay for more sociel workers.
- stan white, leeds, 04/02/2009 06:55
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We wouldn't need as many social workers if they didn't have as many cases. They wouldn't have as many cases if we would lock abusers up and throw away the key in the beginning, instead of giving them a long series of second chances. And put them in with the general population - no new identities - let them face the consequences of their hideous actions. We are too soft on criminals!
- Mel, London, 03/02/2009 23:30
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Helen, Norwich. Social workers do a lot more than child protection duties, thay work in hospitals with the physically and mentally ill,thay work with the old,thay work in youth work,thay work in prisons,thay work with the disabled thay work with the homeless etc etc,as to your comments about sterilisation it doesn't work,and even if it did it would not lessen the need for social workers one iota as the average social worker has never had on there case load a child abuser, simply because there are in fact very few child abuses.child abuse sales news papers.
- KEV, London-UK, 03/02/2009 22:35
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I believe social workers do a very important job and one that most of us would never have the stomach to do yet all they get in return is abuse from the media, politicians and the general public and then we wonder why there is a shortage of social workers. Go figure!
- Gary, London, 03/02/2009 17:01
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Perhaps they're not paid enough?
- Bobby Gillespie, SE1, London, 03/02/2009 14:27
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Please don't forget the actual abusers of children. Without them, there would be far less need for social workers. Many abusers appear to have many children; why not sterilise any convicted child abusers, this would keep the numbers of children at risk down a little.
- Helen, norwich, 03/02/2009 14:01
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it's no surprise. Having spent 30 mins talking to my neighbour (a social worker in surrey)the way they are treated, the amount of paperwork they are expected to complete and being dictated to by bosses they never see except when they are being fired or suspended for not completing their paper work on time is a joke. Add on top of this being told they cannot park in the staff car park for no more than 4hrs a day...is this news any wonder. Perhaps those at the top should forget the lessons learned in civil servant school and go and get some frontline experience.
- Stuart, london, 03/02/2009 12:16
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There are not too few social workers: there's the right number, but they spend 90% of their time in "meetings" and filling out paperwork. If you've ever tried to transact with a social worker you'll know that I'm right. they're just in permanent meetings.
- Neil, london uk,, 03/02/2009 10:26
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