Backlash from judges prompts rethink of social work database

One of the aims of the standardised computer system for social workers was to reduce workload. But, in some cases, judges are refusing to accept information from the system, meaning social workers have to resubmit data to courts.

Judges say the ICS format does not give a full picture of a child's case or assessment of risk and more detail is needed relating to the child's case history, core assessment and care plan.

A Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) spokeswoman said: "The DCSF has been working with the judiciary and we have modified some of the formats for reports to court to address the issues raised concerning length and detail required for court purposes." Where courts are already accepting ICS information, they will be allowed to carry on using the previous system, she added.

John Simmonds, director of policy, development and research at the British Association for Adoption & Fostering (BAAF), questioned how the ICS was allowed to launch without support from the courts. "It looks as if there were not sufficient conversations between the government and judiciary about this," he said. "This could have been addressed a long time ago."

The way the ICS records information about adoption is also a concern. The required data fields were either "missing" or "out of date", according to DCSF policy experts. This has resulted in many councils using a BAAF-developed system to record information on adoption cases.

"We understand the government has now developed an adoption part to the ICS. But the issue now is that councils have been used to using our system and have concerns about switching," said Simmonds.

The ICS was introduced following a review into the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie and was meant to improve the management of data about vulnerable children. So far, £60m of capital funding has been offered to councils to implement the system.