David Cameron has announced a new child protection taskforce designed to help professionals protect vulnerable children.
Education secretary Nicky Morgan will chair the taskforce, announced yesterday by the prime minister, and will lead improvements across children’s social services, police and other relevant agencies.
Members of the taskforce will include the home secretary Theresa May, the children’s minister Edward Timpson and the justice secretary and former education secretary Michael Gove.
‘Fundamental’ reforms
The taskforce’s main goals will be to extend and accelerate reforms to the quality of children’s social work practice and leadership, promote innovative models of delivery and tackle child sexual exploitation.
Cameron described the work as “fundamental”, saying it will help make sure that the most vulnerable children are protected.
“Through this work we will accelerate our current reforms to children’s social work, and will overhaul the way that police, social services and other agencies work together locally,” Cameron said.
Some social workers have responded sceptically to the announcement, with many questioning why voices from the profession are not included on the taskforce.
Child protection ‘taskforce’ comprised of ppl who know sweet FA about social work, families, vulnerability, poverty. https://t.co/8b2mp7GRUA
— Emilie Whitaker (@Dr_EmWhitaker) June 24, 2015
You’d think from what the PM says, there’s no high quality, successful #childprotection #socialwork going on in this country. There is.
— ForSocialWork (@ForSocialWork) June 24, 2015
Why not just call it a ruling party cabinet committee https://t.co/9y29MMdKRO
— richard servian (@serwianski2) June 24, 2015
https://t.co/3KUU4rhXJt Should we B scared that government R making decisions on vulnerable kids and not our social workers @CommunityCare
— Hackney Child (@HackneyChild) June 24, 2015
Could the Govt make their disdain for SW more obvious!? #socialwork https://t.co/ENQkRNRcuJ
— Just _ me _ rambling (@KerryF_says) June 24, 2015
A bit top heavy with ministers. Any representation from professions, service users &carers? @BASW_UK v diff 2 last1! https://t.co/j1jFZpTjkI
— Nushra Mansuri (@NushraMansuri) June 24, 2015
@EmmaLewellBuck @BeresfordPeter basically we do not wish 2 return 2 outdated & discredited model of bein passive recipients of topdownchange
— Nushra Mansuri (@NushraMansuri) June 25, 2015
@BeresfordPeter I can’t believe some people are saying this is a good thing. It’s like putting a Sun agony aunt on a social work taskforce..
— Ermintrude (@Ermintrude2) June 25, 2015
Safe at last Cameron announces child protection task force. with IDS & Gove protecting them our kids can feel safe!! https://t.co/vxTRfsTwam
— Peter Beresford (@BeresfordPeter) June 24, 2015
However, the chief social worker for children, Isabelle Trowler, welcomed the announcement and said the taskforce could help bring the reforms outlined by Eileen Munro in her review of child protection.
This is an extremely important announcement by the Prime Minister regarding the future of social work & level of political interest 3/3
— Isabelle Trowler (@IsabelleTrowler) June 24, 2015
@NushraMansuri @BASW_UK This will bring alive the Munro reforms. Would be great to get positive engagement from BASW. We are mtg very soon.
— Isabelle Trowler (@IsabelleTrowler) June 25, 2015
@Dads4LifeUK @martinnarey My experience to date is they listen & engage. This is serious commitment to deliver change.
— Isabelle Trowler (@IsabelleTrowler) June 25, 2015
The creation of a Ministerial Task Force on child protection could be very good news. Important that the PM sees it as a domestic priority.
— Sir Martin Narey (@martinnarey) June 24, 2015
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