Vox pop: Should the law ensure at-risk children can be seen alone?
Friday, March 12, 2010
The NSPCC has called for social workers to be given the legal power to see at-risk children without a parent or guardian present.
YES - Andrea Warman, deputy chief executive and programmes director, The Who Cares? Trust
Social workers can already apply to the courts to interview children alone, but making this a legal right would promote best practice.
There are many reasons why a child might feel unable to discuss their feelings, fears and worries with parents or carers present. Social workers' primary focus must be on protecting these children and meeting their needs.
However, listening to and communicating with children requires great skill and sensitivity. We must ensure that social workers get the training and support that they need to do it well.
NO - Helga Pile, head of social care, Unison
Powers to see a child alone already exist, so enshrining them in law would be a blunt instrument.
It could do more harm than good to fragile relationships between social workers and parents. Social workers also say it is very rare to be denied access to a child in this way.
The key to protecting a child is building up trust and confidence within a family.
YES - Diana Sutton, head of public affairs and campaigns, NSPCC
A child's safety must not be jeopardised because they can't be seen alone. We want the child to be able to tell their side of the story and we want a change like this to help social workers to deal with uncooperative, manipulative or hostile parents who try to hide evidence of child abuse or neglect.
We think having it in guidance won't be enough to ensure that the voice of the child is heard.
NO - Kirsten Anderson, head of research, policy and communications, The Children's Legal Centre
It is very important for at-risk children to be seen and heard by well-trained social workers. However, placing a legal duty on social workers to see at-risk children alone is too prescriptive and does not allow social workers to respond to at-risk children in a manner that is tailored to the best interests of each child.
Social workers instead should be granted the power to see at-risk children alone when making an assessment where this will be in the child's best interests. This power should allow the social worker to insist on this where parents disagree, without first applying to the court.