Comments on: Baby P case impacts on recruiting social workers http://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/ Market commentary, news and analysis from recruitment consultants Badenoch & Clark Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:41:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: P Westernhttp://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/comment-page-1/#comment-46 P Western Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:52:54 +0000 http://www.market-talk.co.uk/2009/03/02/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/#comment-46 I do not directly work in this field but my current post involves working with families and occassionally been involved in child protection cases. I am very much aware of the difficulties relating to child protection lack of staff, funding, training communication, sharing information etc. Due to the horror of what happened to baby P. I personally feel that someone should be held accountable and was. Anybody working in this field or is about to work in this field should not be threatened by baby P and should welcome the opportunity to make good out of a really bad thing. Chucking money at people to encourage them to work in this field in my opion will only attract those who are interested in the money and not the post. I do not directly work in this field but my current post involves working with families and occassionally been involved in child protection cases. I am very much aware of the difficulties relating to child protection lack of staff, funding, training communication, sharing information etc. Due to the horror of what happened to baby P. I personally feel that someone should be held accountable and was. Anybody working in this field or is about to work in this field should not be threatened by baby P and should welcome the opportunity to make good out of a really bad thing. Chucking money at people to encourage them to work in this field in my opion will only attract those who are interested in the money and not the post.

]]> By: Badenoch & Clarkhttp://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Badenoch & Clark Wed, 04 Mar 2009 11:25:47 +0000 http://www.market-talk.co.uk/2009/03/02/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/#comment-45 You can read some additional opinions on this topic at:Jobs plea to ex-social workers http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7919725.stm'I'm proud to be a social worker' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7727809.stmBaby P case 'may scare off staff' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7775857.stm You can read some additional opinions on this topic at:

Jobs plea to ex-social workers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7919725.stm

‘I’m proud to be a social worker’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7727809.stm

Baby P case ‘may scare off staff’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7775857.stm

]]> By: Paul Wastellhttp://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Paul Wastell Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:06:52 +0000 http://www.market-talk.co.uk/2009/03/02/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/#comment-44 The media's reporting, as so often in child abuse cases, was highly selective and inacccurate. For example, around half the 60 plus meetings with the mother werre with the police, doctors and health visitors. They collectively agreed with social services that Baby P should stay in the mother's care. Among them, only the mother knew that her sadistic boyfriend with a track record of cruelty had moved in - social services were unaware of this crucial fact. A consultant paediatrician did not spot the child's broken back. The media, in the main, haven't made much of these points because it's simpler and sells better to blame social workers. The challenge for childrens' services departments and recruiters is to create working environments that are well resourced so those on the front line have the time, space and support they need to think the unthinkable about their clients - to imagine what might be going on behind closed doors and handle this stress. The media’s reporting, as so often in child abuse cases, was highly selective and inacccurate. For example, around half the 60 plus meetings with the mother werre with the police, doctors and health visitors. They collectively agreed with social services that Baby P should stay in the mother’s care. Among them, only the mother knew that her sadistic boyfriend with a track record of cruelty had moved in – social services were unaware of this crucial fact. A consultant paediatrician did not spot the child’s broken back. The media, in the main, haven’t made much of these points because it’s simpler and sells better to blame social workers. The challenge for childrens’ services departments and recruiters is to create working environments that are well resourced so those on the front line have the time, space and support they need to think the unthinkable about their clients – to imagine what might be going on behind closed doors and handle this stress.

]]> By: John Jordanhttp://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/comment-page-1/#comment-43 John Jordan Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:14:24 +0000 http://www.market-talk.co.uk/2009/03/02/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/#comment-43 Oh how silly of me I should have known it was societies fault. Oh how silly of me I should have known it was societies fault.

]]> By: Susan Lewishttp://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Susan Lewis Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:59:05 +0000 http://www.market-talk.co.uk/2009/03/02/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/#comment-42 I think we as a society need to accept that we all have responsibilities for the protection of children. Society creates the context in which terrible things can happen. We can't look for scapegoats. I think we as a society need to accept that we all have responsibilities for the protection of children. Society creates the context in which terrible things can happen. We can’t look for scapegoats.

]]> By: Badenoch & Clarkhttp://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/comment-page-1/#comment-41 Badenoch & Clark Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:46:33 +0000 http://www.market-talk.co.uk/2009/03/02/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/#comment-41 I am sorry to hear you feel this article is distasteful, John. Certainly nobody is denying the horrific nature of the Baby P incident, nor are we passing comment on the individuals concerned. We are simply reporting the effects that this situation has had, and is anticipated to continue having, on staffing within the profession. I am sorry to hear you feel this article is distasteful, John. Certainly nobody is denying the horrific nature of the Baby P incident, nor are we passing comment on the individuals concerned. We are simply reporting the effects that this situation has had, and is anticipated to continue having, on staffing within the profession.

]]> By: John Jordanhttp://insight.badenochandclark.com/public-sector/02/03/2009/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/184/comment-page-1/#comment-40 John Jordan Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:22:51 +0000 http://www.market-talk.co.uk/2009/03/02/baby-p-case-impacts-on-recruiting-social-workers/#comment-40 Given the horific circumstances of the death of Baby P and the systematic failure of the professionals tasked with protecting his welfare I find this article particularly distasteful. The highlighting of the case by the media was not a frenzy but an accurate description of the failures associated with the case. The reality of the situation was that the head of the department was named but did not display any shame despite serious public dismay and revulsion she was intent on retaining a position she had shown scant ability to undertake. If the media coverage does impress on social workers that working for child welfare is one that carries a massive burden of responsibility then I say that is a job well done. There are too many arms of government not being held to account and this article indicates a shoot the messenger attitude that I feel would be unacceptable to the vast majority of British people. Given the horific circumstances of the death of Baby P and the systematic failure of the professionals tasked with protecting his welfare I find this article particularly distasteful. The highlighting of the case by the media was not a frenzy but an accurate description of the failures associated with the case. The reality of the situation was that the head of the department was named but did not display any shame despite serious public dismay and revulsion she was intent on retaining a position she had shown scant ability to undertake.
If the media coverage does impress on social workers that working for child welfare is one that carries a massive burden of responsibility then I say that is a job well done. There are too many arms of government not being held to account and this article indicates a shoot the messenger attitude that I feel would be unacceptable to the vast majority of British people.

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