Member News
The most vulnerable children in the country could be put at greater risk because of the public reaction to the death of Baby P, the Local Government Association (LGA) claimed today.
Margaret Eaton, chairman of the LGA, told BBC Radio 4 this morning that the "witch hunt" over social services in Haringey risked derailing child protection work.
She explained: "I think that when there is a witch hunt or people are vilified, then a whole profession comes into disrepute.
"I think really dedicated people might think twice about wanting to continue. That makes more children vulnerable."
Eaton suggested that practical measures such as early intervention for families at risk and increasingly joined-up children's services could help.
But she stressed that it must be the social workers themselves who lead on what steps need to be taken.
She said: "We must make sure that we develop and invest in staff who are on these things. It is a very lonely frontline service.
"We need to hear today from people actually doing the job."
She added: "It is the people doing the job that have the best ideas. Not the people who sit with a piece of paper and write policy."
The Local Government Association is holding a conference today looking at the implications of failing to improve the way vulnerable children are protected.
Eaton said that she will outline in her speech to conference a five-point plan of action for protecting vulnerable children.
She has also written to the prime minister asking for increased investment in social work.
Eaton added: "I think that it is horrendous what has happened. I think that Haringey should have said sorry. But I think that we should really move on and make sure that more children are safe."
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