Munro cautions ministers not to “cherry pick” from her reform plans

The architect of proposals to shake-up the child protection social work in England, Professor Eileen Munro, has called for an end to a culture that “assumes human error happens because there are too few rules and legislations when in fact the exact opposite is often the case”.

In a well received speech to the Confederation of Social Work Agencies conference last month Professor Munro said: “We need to emphasise the skill, expertise and flexibility, social workers need to be able to work without fear. Management need to let go of the notion that risk management equates to risk elimination.”

Professor Munro warned ministers against “cherry picking” from her recommendations, cautioning that to do so would risk failing to make substantial changes to child protection social work.

Professor Munro was speaking just weeks after publishing her government commissioned Review of Child Protection which set out plans to reduce bureaucracy and allow for a more “open working environment throughout the sector”. The report contained 15 key recommendations, collectively aimed at moving away from a blame culture and towards a “child-centered” system.

BASW professional officer Nushra Mansuri reflected the mood of delegates when responding to Professor Munro’s address. She said: “This is like music to the profession’s ears. BASW has long campaigned to relieve social workers of the unbearable bureaucracy and administrative overload that prevents them working directly with people who need their services.”