Barnardo's chief in row over 'simplistic' social work views

Charlotte Goddard - 10 September 2009

Our new poll, on the home page, is: "Do you agree with Barnardo's Martin Narey that more children should be taken into care as babies?"

Currently its 40 per cent no, 60 per cent yes.

Alison Jayne Stevens - 9 September 2009

I applaud, BASW, Chief executive Hilton Dawson, with reference to Martin Nareys comments in the Observer Newspaper, about taking more Babies into care at birth, the situation within the Family Courts at the moment is dire, with a waiting list for Guardians in some parts of the Country, is five months, which is leaving Children at risk of abuse, or even death and in the majority of cases, innocent Parents being apart from their Children, for a longer timescale.

Social Services, have enough to do at present, by putting their current cases in order, after Ofsted have failed, at least 21 Local Authority's, on their on the spot inspections, some of these failings were uncompleted assessments and not presented, within the allocated time scale..

Narey should spend his time, helping to raise practice standards within this depleted profession and put some effort into the recruitment and training of these future professionals, by joining these Organizations, and keep his own Department, in order, which is far from perfect.

Alison Stevens - Parents Against Injustice.

Aran Black - 9 September 2009

Social Services needs to get out it's current crises first before considering proposals like this.

Richard Leighton - 8 September 2009

More effective use of residential care would add value to the "toolbox" available to social workers to support children and young people in, or on the cusp of, crisis.

Let's give Narey the benefit of the doubt, he has shown support for beleagured social workers, in the past. This is an opportunity for BASW and Barnados to cement more effective joint working.