Labour conference: Social workers need to 'see and hear' neglected children

29 September 2009 1 min read Ravi Chandiramani Social Care

The NSPCC has urged the government to better support social workers to identify cases of childhood neglect, and to ensure children in troubled households are properly seen and heard.

NSPCC head of policy and public affairs Diana Sutton said Lord Laming's report on child protection in the wake of the Baby Peter tragedy did not sufficiently cover these two areas of practice.

Speaking at a Labour conference fringe event, Crying Out For Protection: How Reform Can Save Children From Abuse, Sutton said: "Children not being seen and heard is a feature of many serious case reviews.

"Children need to be seen and listened to. There is more needed on guidance and training."

She also called for government to revise guidance on when to remove a child from a household and place them in care, as well as revise existing definitions of neglect.

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