By Charlotte Webster-
Social workers are alienating families by investigating too many allegations of child abuse.
They need to reduce the number of investigations into child neglect they launch, and focus on building relationships with families, according to a prominent academic and researcher.
Too many families are being alienated as a result of avoidable investigations into child neglect which lack immediate evidence to support allegations.
Dr. Andy Bilson, (pictured)an emeritus professor of social work at the University of Central Lancashire, has voiced his concerns about the escalating numbers of section 47 inquiries.
The latest figures from the Department for Education’s annual children in need census reveal that the number of annual child protection enquiries in the United Kindgom has surged to unprecedented levels, reaching a record high.
Alarming as it may seem, the percentage of these enquiries that ultimately discover evidence of abuse or neglect has continued to dwindle, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the child protection system.
In the year spanning 2022-2023, there was a 3.5% increase in the number of section 47 enquiries, echoing a concerning trend that has persisted for years. This surge represents nearly a decade of escalating child protection investigations, a damning testament to the impact of budget cuts and austerity measures on preventive services.
Dr. Andy Bilson, who specializes in research and consultancy, promoting children’s rights, parent advocacy and reform of child protection systems. He is committed to developing systems that support families and reduce institutionalisation, and unnecessary removal of children from their families.
He has conducted extensive research into the number of children investigated before they are five years of age, and has expressed alarm at his findings, which take into account the number that do not result in child protection plans.
Dr. Bilson today told The Eye Of Media.Com: ‘social workers have taken a very defensive line and have thrown the wider net.
‘They often play it safe and go through the investigative route
‘They have been accused of missing opportunities in many past cases, which has led to a broad defensiveness in the profession.
‘However in a profession like social work, there is bound to be some mistakes. In human systems, people will make mistakes when they are under a lot of pressure. Mistakes are different from negligence.
‘With the joy of hindsight, it is often easy to spot mistakes, but we don’t have hindsight at the time.
‘If you go into a family with an investigative orientation, it is different from going with an I want to help you attitude
‘There tends to be an overreaction and investigative orientation
‘Social workers need to build relationships with families, so they can be trusted more. They should look into what help the family needs
‘Investigations should only be done where there is a solid indication of harm
‘when you think that roughly 1 in 12 children has been investigated for child neglect before their fifth birthday this is indeed disturbing.
Dr Bilson’s said there are good examples of how to handle the many allegations local authorities receive found in councils, including Camden Council and Leeds Council.
The trends, highlighted in the Department for Education’s report, were also met with disapproval by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, labeling the system as excessively investigative and insufficiently supportive of families.
While there have been notable decreases in the number of referrals and children found to be in need, the number of section 47 inquiries continues to rise.
Over the past decade, the count has soared by almost 100,000, marking a substantial 10% increase from the previous year.
However, the disturbing aspect is the proportion of these inquiries that culminate in an initial child protection conference (ICPC), where abuse or neglect is substantiated.
This figure has plummeted from 46.6% in 2012-13 to 33.9% in 2021-22, and now stands at a mere 33%.
This indicates that an increasing number of investigations do not lead to the development of a child protection plan.
In response to these concerning trends, the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) has attributed the rise in section 47 inquiries to the erosion of preventive services.
The ADCS emphasized the adverse effects of government spending cuts on councils, which began in the 2010s and have resulted in authorities encountering children with more complex needs.
The Local Government Association (LGA) and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) echoed the ADCS’s calls for increased funding. They stressed the need for consistent funding and resources across the country to ensure that all children receive the necessary care and support they require.
The latest data also revealed a concerning decline in the number of child protection plans for which the initial category of abuse was either physical or sexual abuse. Despite an increase in assessments, the falling numbers are indicative of under-resourced children’s services.
The Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse (CSA Centre) expressed its concerns about the decline in the number of cases involving sexual abuse as the initial category.
They estimated that around half a million children in England and Wales experience some form of sexual abuse, creating a substantial gap between the number of abused children and those receiving support.
Last year’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report identified this systemic under-identification and recommended that practitioners have a duty to report such cases.
The government’s promise to introduce mandatory reporting has been criticized by IICSA chair Alexis Jay for not fully embracing the recommendations.
As child protection inquiries surge and abuse and neglect findings decline, it is imperative for government authorities to address these issues, prioritize the well-being of children, and provide the necessary funding and support for children’s services across the country.
The alarming trend reveals the urgency of a systematic overhaul to ensure the safety and welfare of vulnerable children in the United Kingdom.