Minister offers funding commitment to BASW leaders

The children’s minister Tim Loughton has told BASW he will press the Treasury to fund existing child protection services and any measures to emerge from Professor Eileen Munro’s review of child protection social work.

Mr Loughton was responding to a direct request from BASW leaders yesterday to protect social work services from damaging cuts as the government continues to pursue its deficit reduction plans. 

Chief executive Hilton Dawson and chair Fran Fuller met with Mr Loughton in London, their first face-to-face talks with the minister since the coalition government was formed in May.   

Speaking after the talks Mr Dawson welcomed the commitment. He said BASW would continue to press for children’s and adults’ social work services to be safeguarded from cuts that would have dire consequences for thousands of vulnerable people.