Child protection services ‘are overstretched’

28 Jul 10
Organisations involved in the protection of children have struggled to keep up with increased demand for their services, two reports have claimed today
By Jaimie Kaffash

28 July 2010

Organisations involved in the protection of children have struggled to keep up with increased demand for their services, two reports have claimed today.

A National Audit Office report into the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) shows that the statutory body has been unable to keep up with the demand for court advisers. It says that local authorities increased the number of care cases by 40% from November 2008 as a result of the death of Baby Peter in Haringey.

The auditors say that Cafcass ‘was not well placed to respond efficiently and effectively because it had only partly resolved known organisational challenges around management information’. This meant the number of children involved in cases without an adviser increased from 250 to 1,250 between November 2008 and July 2009.

However, it adds that an increase in the service’s capacity between August 2009 and June 2010 reduced the proportion of children in care without an adviser from 10% to 2%.

Anthony Douglas, chief executive of Cafcass, said that the NAO had acknowledged the organisation’s steps to improve the service. ‘This is a terrific achievement given the pressure that we, and all organisations in the family justice system, are under.’

An Ofsted report also published today reveals that only one in five social workers feel they have enough time to work effectively with the children involved in their caseload.

Matt Dunkley, vice president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, said that there was a need for voluntary sector involvement. He pointed to strategic partnerships between third sector organisations and councils, specifically children’s trusts.

However, he added: ‘We are concerned that recent announcements removing the duty to have a children’s trust could hinder efforts to involve charities, and particularly smaller organisations, in such decisions.’

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