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Frontline training for all directors
Tim Ross12.03.09
All child protection directors will be sent for compulsory retraining in the wake of the Baby P scandal, ministers announced today.
Directors of children's services will have to attend a new course to refresh their knowledge of frontline social work.
Haringey's head of children's services, Sharon Shoesmith, was sacked with no pay-off after her staff failed to protect 17-month-old Baby P.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls outlined the plan as Lord Laming published his inquiry.
Mr Balls said: "Social workers do a vital, but tough job, often under difficult circumstances but there are real challenges around leadership, retention and career progression.
"We have already set up the Social Work Task Force to tackle the challenges facing the social work profession to help make the reforms we need to ensure that social work is a high quality profession that commands the respect and confidence of the public.
"But if we are to deliver a world-class child protection system and improve outcomes for children and young people we need excellent leadership and clear accountability at every level.
"It is vital that frontline workers get the support and supervision they need from managers who have the best possible skills and truly understand the challenges."
Lord Laming was appointed to investigate child protection services amid a public outcry over the death of Baby P last year.
Six years ago he published a major report into the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbié, also in Haringey, in February 2000.
He said Victoria's death must mark an "enduring turning point" in child protection.
Among his 108 recommendations were a new database recording every contact made by a child under the age of 16 with police, council and health workers to stop them falling through gaps in services.
He also proposed a new national agency for children and families and a children's commissioner for England.
Ministers responded with a new strategy, Every Child Matters, which saw education and children's social services combined across the country.
But headteachers believe the over-arching position of director of children's services in a local authority has become "a job from hell".
