Social workers should ‘give priority to children’s views’

Social workers should give more priority to the views of children when dealing with parents with mental health and substance misuse problems, according to a new inspection report.

A four-strong team of inspectors from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission visited the city last month to review joint working between children’s and adult social services.

It was part of a review of how ten different local councils addressed the impact on children in cases involving parents with serious health issues.

Jon Plant, Hull’s manager for adult, children and family services, said one of the key findings from the visit was that children’s views on their own circum- stances were not always presented at family conference meetings involving key staff.

He said: “The inspectors felt the voice of the child was not evidenced as strongly as they would like to see.

“We need to remedy that and put children’s views alongside those of the parents and professionals.”

Mr Plant said the review found no concerns about the welfare of children.