A survey by guardian association Nagalro has raised specific concerns about duty systems brought in by Cafcass to deal with increased caseloads following the Baby Peter scandal.
This acts as a triage system to ensure that cases involving the most vulnerable children are prioritised. But guardians say children are still at risk as too often decisions are made based on reading reports rather than meeting children.
In its report Time for Children, Nagalro refers to these as "paper children" cases.
The report adds: "Respondents describe managers instructing frontline staff to undertake an arms-length, paper exercise of risk assessment where the child is often not seen."
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