UK Child Protection System Lets Children Down

Last year, twenty-five children died “under the noses of social workers” in the UK.

From the UK, Ofsted has “assessed 67 serious case reviews (SCRs) between April 1 and September 30 last year involving 93 children. Thirty-nine had died. ”

“Of the 93 children, 70 were known to social services. Twenty-five of these died, including four who were subject to active child protection plans.

Ofsted warned that too often the focus on the child was ‘lost’ as they were not seen by the professionals involved or not visited regularly enough.

In some cases, the child was seen but not questioned and there was often an ‘over reliance’ on what the parents claimed. ”

“Vulnerable youngsters are let down in ‘too many’ cases by professionals who fail to listen to the concerns of grandparents, neighbours and even fathers, it says.
In four of the cases, grandparents reported concerns but this did not lead to effective action.”

Failed by the system: 25 abused children die under the noses of social workers
[Dail Mail 4/13/11 by Sarah Harris]

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