Martin Narey: The interests of the child must be our only concern

26 August 2010 2 mins read Martin Narey Social Care

The publication of the serious case review on the death of Khyra Ishaq was another difficult day for all of us who work in social work or alongside social workers.

There are a couple of things that need to be acknowledged as we come to terms with this tragedy.

The first - as Barnardo's has been saying for some time - is that we may need to intervene more not less if we are to protect the most vulnerable.

This was not an issue in this most recent death where the reasons for non-intervention were rather different.

But we need to reject the wholly inaccurate notion that taking a child into care might make things worse. That belief - often passionately held - has been behind a dangerous reluctance to step in and remove children.

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