Baby Peter: £58m Boost For Social Services

1:24pm UK, Wednesday May 06, 2009

Simon Newton, Sky News reporter
Millions of pounds are to be spent to train and support social workers in an overhaul of the child protection system following the death of Baby Peter.

The Government's new Social Work Transformation Fund will pay for training and support for social workers, focusing on those new to the profession.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls' £58m action plan includes:

:: 200 new university places from September to encourage the "brightest and best" graduates to sign up for conversion courses to become social workers.

:: A new recruitment campaign to encourage former social workers to return to the profession.

:: A series of Newly Qualified Social Workers pilot schemes across the country to help newly qualified professionals gain experience.

:: Funding for a new practice-based Masters degree in social work starting in 2011.

:: A new Advanced Social Work Professional Status programme to help retain experienced social workers.

Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder of children's charity Kids Company, told Sky News the initiatives will improve training and recruitment but do not address the real problems.

She said: "The fact is that social workers cannot cope with the sheer workload of the children and the complex cases that are emerging.

"Social workers are walking into estates having to negotiate aggressive dogs, weapons and very, very difficult working circumstances.

"It just feels like the Government has no understanding of what it takes to do social work at street level."

The Government is investing £110m over the next two years in front-line social work - a move it says will improve training and career opportunities.

Commenting on the action plan, Mr Balls said: "Social workers do a really tough job in challenging circumstances, often saving children's lives and taking difficult decisions about a child's future and we should support their invaluable work.

"Our ambition is for social work to be a high quality profession, with the confidence and support of the public.

"But to do this we must give social workers the training and support they need to develop and become a confident workforce."

The Government will also respond to Lord Laming's interim report on child protection in England.

I'm sorry but it's a bit late now!!!

Where were the FULLY TRAINED STAFF when baby peter was being beaten,bitten and left to die. They shouldn't have to wait for a child to be killed before training their staff.

Antoinette wrote:I'm sorry but it's a bit late now!!!

Where were the FULLY TRAINED STAFF when baby peter was being beaten,bitten and left to die. They shouldn't have to wait for a child to be killed before training their staff.

Its too late for him....but not late for the future victims....hopefully we wont hear of any more cases like this and if they do happen....the Govt will gag the stories as they do with alot of them....did you see how Peters mum was protected...there's a thread here where a newspaper reported it when it happened...names too!

Ambersuz wrote:

Antoinette wrote:I'm sorry but it's a bit late now!!!

Where were the FULLY TRAINED STAFF when baby peter was being beaten,bitten and left to die. They shouldn't have to wait for a child to be killed before training their staff.

Its too late for him....but not late for the future victims....hopefully we wont hear of any more cases like this and if they do happen....the Govt will gag the stories as they do with alot of them....did you see how Peters mum was protected...there's a thread here where a newspaper reported it when it happened...names too!

How many other children have been abused since baby peter died. How many other children suffered at the hands of their parents or guardians. This training should have always been in. It's only being brought in because of the uproar over Peters death.

It's about time!!! I agree Antoinette, it is disgusting that it took this long and the death of a baby boy for this to happen.

His face haunts me and his story is one I shall never forget. Let's just hope that the powers-that-be also never forget him, so that some good may come out of this tragically sad story.