I suspect, too, that there would be widespread agreement that unnecessary bureaucracy and an obsession with process can be a major factor in this. So the focus of the Munro Review of Child Protection on ensuring that a child's experiences are always paramount in decision-making has rightly been welcomed. There is appreciation, too, for the emphasis on the judgment of dedicated staff rather than standardised, prescriptive procedures.
But as Professor Munro herself has recognised, there are no quick fixes to the challenges identified. She has called for sustained investment to improve the capacity and capabilities of social workers.
Our fear at the NSPCC is that in an environment where funding for children's services is already being reduced, neither the time nor resources needed will be given.
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