CYP Now - Call for review to recognise the factors in risk-averse practice

Social work leaders say analysis in the Care Review’s first report fails to recognise key system-wide problems that result in cautious child protection practice and higher spending on late interventions over early help.

The Case for Change report argues there is too much emphasis on assessment and investigation and not enough on support. Picture: Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock

When the Care Review’s first report, The Case for Change, was published last month, social workers and leaders were quick to hit out at chair Josh MacAlister’s conclusion that child protection practice is often “too risk averse”.

“At present the system is under significant strain: more families are being investigated, more children are in care and costs are spiralling as money is increasingly spent on crisis intervention,” it states, calling for increased focus on early help for families.

This call is supported by latest analysis, commissioned by children’s charities Barnardo’s, Action for Children, NSPCC, National Children’s Bureau and The Children’s Society, which shows that council spending on early intervention services for families fell from £3.6bn in 2010 to £1.8bn in 2020.

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