Social services blighted by ‘vicious circle’ says Baby P taskforce

A “vicious circle” of linked problems blighting social services has made it difficult for them to improve, experts tasked with an investigation after the death of Baby P have said.

Social work in England suffers from serious staffing shortages, a lack of leadership and support for frontline workers that is “inconsistent and sometimes inadequate”, the Government-appointed social work taskforce reported.

But the taskforce, which was given the job of improving social services after the Baby P tragedy, said there was now “an opportunity to get things right”.

In an interim report published on Wednesday it painted a picture of over-stretched social workers who feel undervalued and whose training often fails to prepare them properly for the demands of the job.

Social work is struggling to hold its own as a “durable, attractive” profession, with widespread staff shortages “seriously compromising” the quality of frontline services.

Not enough suitable social workers are being produced or retained by the current system of training and career progression, and some feel the job is at risk of becoming too “mechanised”.

There is also no single body responsible for promoting the profession and improving standards.

The taskforce noted: “Many of these weaknesses can end up compounding one another, causing a vicious circle in which service improvement becomes hard to achieve.”

Its report made a series of recommendations, including the creation of a national college for social work, improving education, developing a clearer career structure and better resources.

Moira Gibb, social work taskforce chairman, said: “We have identified the building blocks of the reform proposals we will be putting to Government later this year.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to put social work on a new footing for the long term. The country needs a more confident, more effective and more respected social work profession.”

Delyth Morgan, Children’s Minister, said: “From meetings with social workers and from today’s report it is clear to see that the profession is facing a particularly tough time at the moment and we are committed to ensuring they have the support and training they need for them to carry out their work effectively.”

Baby P, whose first name was Peter, was just 17 months old when he died at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger in August 2007 while on the at-risk register of Haringey Council in north London.

Public outcry followed the revelation that he had suffered 50 injuries despite receiving 60 visits from social workers, doctors and police over the final eight months of his life.

The social work taskforce, whose members include The Sun’s agony aunt Deidre Sanders, will now draw up a detailed programme of reform for the Government.