‘We Must Ask Why People Are Nervous Of Social Work System’

Public suspicion of the social work system must be addressed to protect children such as Brandon Muir, according to a leading expert in the field.

Brigid Daniel, professor of social work and head of the social work section at Stirling University, said it was a “challenge” to the profession to create a service that was both approachable and effective at protecting children at risk. Her comments follow the conviction of Robert Cunningham.

Professor Daniel said: “I think it does ask questions as to why we have ended up with a social work system that people are nervous to approach. It is seen as more of a threat.

“Many people who are struggling to care for their children may have a network of friends who themselves are fearful of the consequences of speaking to those in authority, such as social workers.

“There is a suspicion of the system and it is a challenge to all of us. We need to find out what needs to be done to make people who come to us feel more supportive. This needs to be coupled with being an effective system and deal with the root social causes of the abuse and the neglect of children.”

Brandon and his mother, Heather Boyd, had been known to social services for about a year before the child died.

Home visits were made by various “protection network” staff to check on the wellbeing of the child.

That network included health visitor Sinead McLaughlin, who saw Brandon four days before he died, noting that the boy had a cut on his face close to his eye and dried blood in a nostril.

It is not clear if this health visitor knew of heightened concerns held by social workers that the risk to Brandon’s safety may have altered given the arrival of Robert Cunningham, who moved into Ms Boyd’s home 18 days before the child died. Dundee City Council could not confirm this last night.

Ms McLaughlin was told by Ms Boyd that the injuries were caused by the toddler falling out of bed.

The following day, Brandon was taken to see his GP, Dr Morag Ward, and she did not find anything out of the ordinary with the child either. However, she did suggest that he see an orthopaedic consultant regarding a limp.

Professor Daniel said that health visitors, and other professionals, needed to maintain a balance between driving people away and keeping an eye out for children at risk.

She added: “We will not know if everybody did the best they possibly could or, with hindsight, see that errors were made. There is now a much more multidisciplinary approach.

“All the evidence suggests that this is the most effective approach, but the challenge then is at the same time to maintain a focus on the sharp end of risk work, especially when social workers are so busy in places like Dundee, where the levels of deprivation and need are so high.”

An independent inquiry into the actions of child protection services at Dundee City Council in relation to Brandon will be held following Cunningham’s conviction, as will a Significant Case Review, which has been ordered by the Scottish Government as a matter of course in cases of this kind.

Ministers yesterday requested that Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) bring forward the publication of its inspection report into child protection services in Dundee in light of the tragic death of the toddler. It will now be published in June.